SALE FC maintained their tilt for the National Three North title with a bonus-point victory over fourth-placed Firwood Waterloo.

With two games to go, the Heywood Road outfit remain four points clear at the top of the table.

But second-placed Sandal have a match in hand, meaning their encounter at Sale FC on the last day of the season looks destined to be a championship decider.

Sale seemed intent on taking their fight to the final day after Sam Stelmaszek opened their scoring against Waterloo with a try in the first minute.

His take from the kick off set up a break that eventually saw Stelmaszek score with only 31 seconds on the clock.

Liam McGovern kicked the conversion and added a further five during the match.

The hosts' pack were dominant from the outset and a Sale scrum drove the opposition over their own line for Jonathan Keep to touch down for a converted try.

A powerful run from second row Rhys Davies then opened up the visitors' defence and slick handling by the backs saw Matt Simpson finish off a fine move.

An interception by Waterloo’s James O’Brien saw the full back race 65 metres for a try, but the conversion was missed.

Keep responded with his second try to gain the all-important bonus point inside the opening 30 minutes.

Sale went further ahead early in the second half when Tom Davenport broke through the Waterloo defence and Moorhouse was on hand to score their fifth try of the afternoon.

With fifteen minutes remaining, a pick up and short pass by Keep set Stelmaszek on his way and the scrum half outstripped the opposition defence to score his second try and take Sale past 40 points. Conditions deteriorated in the final quarter with torrential rain impacting on the fluency of the handling and general play but by then Sale were out of sight.