SALE overcame a potentially difficult fixture in North Liverpool to regain second place in National Three North behind Sandal, but crucially having a game in hand.

Firwood Waterloo started well and secured a penalty after just four minutes before Liam McGovern levelled matters for Sale.

Waterloo had much the better of territory and possession in the early stages forcing Sale to concede two further penalties to go 9-3 behind.

Gradually the visitors came into the game and midway through the second quarter they created a move that enabled Chris Mayor to score the first try, converted by McGovern.

The hosts came back strongly into Sale territory but were met by a resilient defence and Sale used a combination of strong running and slick handling to put Joe Kelly over for a try, well converted from wide out by McGovern for a 17-9 lead. Sale conceded a fourth penalty late in the half to allow the hosts back into the match at 17-12.

Matters were even in the opening 10 minutes of the second half until Sale had Danny Waddy and Jonathan Keep sent to the sin-bin within a couple of minutes of each other and Waterloo added a fifth penalty as the balance of the game swung in favour of the home side.

Waterloo went on the attack confident of winning points but lost possession on the halfway line and Ciaran Connolly regained the ball to race in for a try which was again converted by McGovern.

With Sale two players short they put in a tremendous performance to not only keep the hosts from scoring, but add to their own score. More clinical play saw Sam Stelmaszek start and finish a superb handling move to extend Sale’s lead to 14 points.

With nine minutes remaining fine work by the pack took play almost to the home line before Stelmaszek scored again. In the final minutes the home side claimed their first try by Ryan McKie, converted by Reeve but by then their hopes of victory had long gone.