SALE moved back to the top of league North 1 West with this win against a strong Cumbrian side.

It took until the 35th minute before the first points were scored when Chris Lillie put Sale in front finishing off a fine move, with Scott Redfern adding the conversion.

The same pair repeated matters just two minutes later and Sale led 14-0 at half time.

Fifteen minutes into the second half Sale lost prop Nathan Bailey to a red card, but they kept out the visitors for 10 minutes before Carlisle scored a converted try to bring them within seven points.

Sale put in some outstanding defensive work and late in the half pressured the visitors’ line once more, and Lillie collected his hat-trick with three minutes remaining. Carlisle’s Barry Earl scored his second try in the last minute to earn them a losing bonus point from the match.