SALE FC welcomed Bishop’s Stortford to the CorpAcq Stadium last weekend, the visitors having opened their account in National League One with a high-scoring win against Birmingham Moseley the previous Saturday.

But they could not overcome a Sale side that won 22-8 on home soil.

It appeared as though Stortford were starting where they left off when, after just one minute, captain Sam Winter scored an unconverted try, while three minutes later a penalty extended their lead to eight points.

Despite this setback, Sale stuck to their task and a Chris Johnson penalty reduced the deficit, while probing runs by Jonty Rawcliffe and Paolo Odogwu stretched the Stortford defence.

Shortly after Stortford full-back George Cullen received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, and Sale scored their first try driving over the line from a well-executed line-out. The try was not converted so the scores were level at 8-8.

From the restart, Sale went on the offensive and after a passage of slick handling, winger Tom Brady released prop Adam Aigbokhae the ball was recycled quickly and passed along the line to winger Odogwu who scored their second try, converted by Johnson from close to the touchline.

In the closing minutes of the half, Odogwu raced into the Stortford half forcing the opposition to defend under pressure.

The Sale forwards won the ball, quickly releasing along the backs, concluding with Rawcliffe scoring the hosts' third try. Johnson converted from a tight angle to make the score 22-8 at the break.

Sale came close to increasing their lead on 72 minutes, scrum-half Matthew Bradley breaking clear with a spirited run, only to be held up five metres from the line then penalised for failing to release.

The closing five minutes saw Sale press beyond the Stortford 22-metre line as they sought an additional try.

It was not to be but Sale were deservedly victorious as Rawcliffe was named man-of-the-match.