Prior to that they had suffered a string of close losses interspersed by an abandoned home ‘win', 2025 beginning with a gallant 23-17 reverse at title-chasing Rotherham Titans.

The Dogs were downed 14-12 in the Manchester derby at Sedgley Park before Christmas, having led Birmingham Moseley 30-25 at home when the floodlights went out on 62 minutes a week before.

Prior to that Sale lost 14-7 at Bishop’s Stortford, 15-12 against Leicester Lions in a tight Heywood Road showdown and 31-15 versus Dings Crusaders.

Another narrow away loss, 31-27 at Blackheath in Week Nine, ended a two-match winning streak (33-22) against visiting Esher and 38-34 in a cracker at Darlington Mowden Park.

34-15 and 31-27 reverses against top-four London clubs Rosslyn Park and Richmond came off the back of a brilliant 21-17 home victory which ended Rotherham Titans’ unbeaten start to the season.

Rams had done the same to The Dogs in Week Three, Sale having opened with a 24-18 home triumph against Sedgley and a fine 28-24 victory at Plymouth Albion on the opening day.

Players to Watch:

Josh Brown – Free-scoring hooker, who is also equally adept in the back row, leads the way with nine for the season for Sale.

Often the beneficiary of The Dogs’ fine set-piece, has 40 tries in 87 appearances since originally joining from Sandbach in the cancelled Covid season.

*England Under 20s ace Alfie Longstaff started in the No. 2 jersey and was named National One Player of the Week last time out, his second personal award in a fortnight having claimed the Two North gong for Preston Grasshoppers seven days earlier.

Ollie Davies – Called up by England U20s for the Six Nations , the fly-half debuted off the bench in the 14-7 loss at Stortford before going onto run the show with 13 points in the abandoned Birmingham game.

Tom Walsh – Mesmeric wing has incredible speed with a lethal finish, having racked up 36 scores in 79 caps since joining Sale from Loughborough Students in the summer of 2021.

Three in six against Rams and always a threat who has conjured numerous assists as well.