SALE FC ran in three impressive second-half tries to come back from 12 points behind to win 38-31 on home soil on a testing afternoon against Loughborough Students in National League One.

The visitors took an early lead following a lineout win when number 10 Mark Dixon scored under the posts, with Charlie Reed adding the extras.

Three minutes later, Sale’s flanker Adam Aigbokhae finished off a superb move to go over in the corner, followed by midfield general Jack Moorhouse scoring off the back of a rolling maul.

Kieran Wilkinson converted the second try but missed the first.

From here, the students got their noses in front going into the half-time break.

First, Harry Priestner crashed over for a wonderful solo try, then Reed added a penalty to put the students ahead.

With the momentum firmly now in the students' favour, a further score was added by number eight Thom Smith who powered his way through some poor Sale defence, giving the visitors a 12-point advantage.

The home side managed to score just before the break through number eight Ryan Parkinson, and with Wilkinson adding the extras the deficit was now just five points.

After the break there was a real momentum shift going the way of the home team, as replacement Tom Ailes scored to put them back in front on 50 minutes.

This was then added to 10 minutes later as Matt Bradley danced his way past the students' defence to go over in the corner.

With the home side now in the lead, Moorhouse carried another across the line on 73 minutes after a great lineout was won by the home side leading to an attack finished by the club’s all-time leading scorer.

Wilkinson kicked the extras giving Sale an unassailable 14-point lead going into the final minutes.

It was the visitors who rounded off the afternoon with a couple of bonus points as centre Priestner scored under the posts leaving Reed to add the extras but Sale held on to win.