SEDGLEY Park made a stunning start to the season with a 65-24 home success against newly-promoted Esher.

Warren Seals converted an early Rhys Henderson try for the hosts, the fly-half extending the lead with a penalty.

Owen Waters added to his own try to get the Eees on the board, and they hit the front when he repeated the trick following Tom Spiers’ try.

Seals and Waters exchanged penalties, but Sedge led 20-17 at the break following a converted Bob Birtwell effort.

Esher regained the lead through Ed Volley and Waters, but Tigers the ran riot, Tom Ailes, Lewis Bradley, Henderson, Andy Riley (two) and Albert Bradshaw (two) touching down as Seals slotted three more kicks.

Sale made a statement of intent with a 28-24 bonus-point win at Plymouth Albion.

James Robins kicked a penalty and then converted an Obi Ene score for the Dogs, the hosts hitting back through Frankie Dart, Connor Eastgate on target.

A Corbin Thunder try made it 15-7 to Sale, but their opponents cut the gap to one through Archie Hill and Eastgate.

Pete Vickers and Fergus Mulchrone crossed for the visitors either side of the break, before Craig Duncan gave Plymouth hope at the start of the fourth quarter.

However, a Will Hunt penalty effectively made the game safe for Sale, albeit the hosts claimed two bonus-points after Jack Oulton crossed the whitewash.

Richmond were the other away to win with an impressive 31-20 success at Blackheath.

Callum Grieve kicked a penalty and then touched down for the visitors, Tom Ffitch landing a three-pointer before converting his own try for Club.

Richmond, though, led 18-10 at half-time after Grieve slotted another penalty and then added the extras to Toby Saysell’s score.

And they extended their advantage when Grieve added to an Alex Schwarz try on 44 minutes, Blackheath fighting back with a second Ffitch penalty and converted Jake Hennessey try.

‘Mond, however, shut the game down via another Grieve kick and Lewis Dennett drop goal.

Birmingham Moseley started with a 40-20 home win against new boys Dings Crusaders.

The visitors took the lead as George Boulton added to a Solomon Taufa try, Mose replying through Aquile Smith and a Jack Jolly penalty.

Ethan Priest extended the advantage, but the Bristolians made it a one-point game before the break, Tom Knight touching down.

Smith’s second was countered by Louie Trevett but a converted Sam Pointon try and Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley penalty gave Mose breathing space at 28-17.

Boulton landed a three-pointer for Dings, but late tries from IsaaC McNulty and Dan Brough ensured a successful start for the Midlanders, Maxwell-Whiteley adding to the former.

Six-try Bishop’s Stortford eased to a 36-12 victory against visitors Leicester Lions.

Two Alex Rayment tries and one from Harrison Langworthy, all added to by Mike Cooke, gave Stortford a 21-0 interval lead.

Cooke crossed and then converted Rayment’s hat-trick score, Langworthy then red carded before Jack Edwards got Lions on the board, Luke Bouchier with the extras.

A Cooke penalty made it 36-7 before the visitors grabbed a late Jake Sterland consolation.

Rotherham Titans were the sole promoted team to triumph, the hosts with a 31-21 success against Rosslyn Park.

Lloyd Hayes converted a Luke Cole try and then slotted a penalty to give the hosts a 10-point lead, Park replying as Jasper Cameron dotted down for Steffan James to add the extras.

John Okafor and Joe Luca Smith exchanged converted tries before another Hayes penalty made it 20-14 at the break.

James was again on target after Charlie Mulchrone crossed for Park, but Rotherham took the spoils thanks to two more Hayes kicks and a Callum Bustin try.

Rams, meanwhile, started their campaign with a 41-12 home triumph against Darlington Mowden Park.