SALE FC kicked off their National Two North campaign with a 27-3 win against Otley at Heywood Road.

After surviving relegation in the losing stages of last season, Sale are looking to improve and an opening-day home triumph has set them off on a positive note.

But it was Otley who started the stronger and were able to take advantage of early territory as Tom Hodson slotted over a penalty three minutes in.

The wet and greasy conditions did not help players in the first half as a number of penalties for knock-ons were awarded. Sale eventually profited from that as Luke McGovern bisected the posts for his first points of the season.

Both defences were standing firm, but Otley’s was having to work the harder as Sale looked to make inroads.

The home side struggled to register the first try of the game as the half ticked by, but they did go close through McGovern who was held up over the line.

However, Sale would end the opening period in front as fly-half Chris Johnson, who was making his league debut, coolly slotted over a drop-goal to put his side in front.

Sale had been knocking at the door for large spells of the first half and it took less than 60 seconds in the second for the home side to get their first try of the game as McGovern carved open the Otley defence and flicked the ball

to Chris Mayor who slid over in the corner.

McGovern failed with the tough conversion attempt and it looked like that could have cost the hosts as Otley nearly crossed from their first real attack of the game.

Scrum-half Max Johnson darted through the Sale defence and popped the ball wide, but it fell loose.

Winger Alex Beaumont did well to get a boot on the ball and nudge it over the try line, but in the wet conditions he could not get a firm grounding on the ball which resulted in a knock-on.

McGovern made Otley rue that missed opportunity as he slotted over another six points for his side.

Otley's George Burkinshaw was then yellow carded as the Yorkshire outfit started to lose their discipline and it got worse for Peter Clegg’s team as Sale put the game beyond them a couple of minutes later.

Following a kick to the corner, the ball was worked to the middle by the Sale backs before the move was rounded off by Kelly as barged his way over by the posts to give the hosts some breathing space.

McGovern made no mistake with the extras which ultimately wrapped up the win.

Man of the match was Sale FC's second row Rees Davies, who worked relentlessly and carried hard all afternoon to create a good platform for the backs.