Things started superbly for the home side as they came flying out the blocks, working their way through the phases before a beautiful Zach Clow pass sent Jak Rossiter scampering in on the right, Fraser Honey rifling a fine conversion into the teeth of the wind for 7-0.

However, Sale hit back immediately, the hosts spilling the kick-off before compounding the error by conceding a penalty in their 22.

From there the Dogs kicked to the corner, and a powerful maul ended with hooker Nathan Langdon touching down for a score added to by James Robins.

A swift momentum shift continued as Sale then hit the front, some lovely handling from their dangerous backline, along with the suspicion of a forward pass in midfield, sending man-of-the-match Fergus Mulchone under the posts.

Robins again slotted the kick, but the hosts rallied and a great line from Drew Humberstone enabled Max Hayman to pick the ball up and power over from five metres out – his 20th of the season taking him to the top of the divisional standings.

Yet the visitors always looked threatening in attack, and another super move sent Mark Dixon over in front of clubhouse corner, Robins with another sublime strike before a 40-metre penalty put his side further clear.

Rams had maul chances both before and after the break, latterly held up over the line, but it was the away side who then struck a decisive blow towards the end of the third quarter.

A Mulchrone interception took his side from their own 22 to Rams’, and after a series of phases Dixon doubled his tally for 29-12.

The hosts gave themselves a glimmer of hope with 10 minutes remaining, impressive replacement Ben Atkins making a storming break before Humberstone scythed through, Honey on target.

But Sale closed the door emphatically as livewire Tom Walsh – who had already made a searing dash in the opening period – finished the job on the left, Robins adding the coup de grace with another fabulous touchline conversion.

Rams remain second in the table, now five points behind Chinnor, with a trip to Cinderford next Saturday (3pm).

Final Score: Rams 19–36 Sale FC (HT 12-24)

Scorers:

Rams:

Tries: Rossiter 5, Hayman 22, Humberstone 71

Conversions: Honey 6, 72

Sale FC:

Tries: Langdon 9, Mulchrone 12, Dixon 27, 57, Walsh 76

Conversions: Robins 10, 13, 28, 77

Penalty: Robins 34

Star Man: Fergus Mulchrone (Sale)

Referee: Alan Chandrachud

Attendance: 920

Rams

(15-9, 1-8) Clow, Rossiter, Kalling-Smith, Humberstone (vc), Robson, Honey, Hoadley; Marris, Hayman, Baker, C Stapley, Swain, Hoyt, McRae, R Stapley ©

Replacements: Scott, Englezos, Harris, Atkins, Monye.

Sale FC

(15-9, 1-8) Brady, Dixon, Mulchrone, Hirskyj-Douglas, Walsh, Robins, Bradley; Carlile, Langdon, Ford, Gray, Barron, Hughes ©, Brown, Priestley-Nangle

Replacements: Briggs, Stout, Howcroft, Parkin, Street