SALE FC suffered disappointment after going down 21-16 to Tynedale in National League Two North.

The match was switched to Newcastle Falcons' Kingston Park stadium as Tynedale’s home ground was not available following severe flooding.

The home side took the lead four minutes into the match when Sale transgressed and full-back Ash Smith kicked the penalty.

Tynedale had the better of the play in the opening minutes and Sale suffered a setback when full-back Adam Greendale had to leave the field.

However, the visitors moved into the Tynedale 22 from where Liam McGovern secured a drop goal on 12 minutes.

Both sides then exchanged penalties but the turning point of the game came when Sale’s Henry Platt was yellow carded towards the end of the first half and Tynedale used the man advantage to put winger Oli Walker in for a try and an 11-6 lead at the break.

Sale’s plight worsened five minutes into the second half when Walker finished off a flowing move with a try in the corner and Smith landed a fine conversion from wide to give the hosts a 12-point lead.

Both McGovern and Smith again exchanged penalties with the latter coming from a sin-binning for Sale’s James Purcell, before Tynedale lost Ben Duncan – also to a yellow card.

Sale replacement scrum-half Sam Stelmaszek then put in a magnificent 40-metre break to send Tom Davenport over for a try and with McGovern securing the conversion, the visitors were back in the match.

Duncan returned to the fray only to see Tynedale winger James Clark sent to the sin bin with five minutes remaining.

Sale produced some excellent handling during a 17-phase display late in the game but the resolute home defence secured the victory leaving the Heywood Road men with just a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.