SALE FC entered the season finale knowing their future in National League One was secure but it was a different story for visitors Cambridge, who were battling to escape relegation.

And they did just that with a 24-5 triumph.

Three minutes in, Cambridge centre James Ayrton latched on to a pass from brother Michael to give his side the lead. Fly-half Ben Penfold added the extras in the opening exchanges.

With the visitors taking a seven-point lead, Sale had to try to get back in the match, but several attacking possessions were scuppered by sloppy passing and wet conditions.

On 13 minutes, the visitors scored again and even though Penfold missed the extras, Cambridge now had a lead they would not lose.

The next 20 minutes saw possession change hands regularly, and it was Sale who went into half time on the up, as they created a plethora of scoring chances.

Infringements by Cambridge were punished as the referee gave flanker Ciaran Moore a yellow card for repeat offences.

From this advantage, Sale went to the corner giving them their third five-metre line-out.

Sale built a great platform, giving prop Simon Griffiths the chance to rumble over in his final appearance for the club.

Going into the break, Sale had reduced the arrears to seven points.

At the start of the second half, they tried hard to make the man advantage count, but unforced errors led to them conceding possession, giving Cambridge the chance to extend their lead.

Something that they did in the 47th minute, when the returning Moore latched on to a rolling maul set-up from their own line-out throw, taking the lead to 12 points.

Regardless of the latest score, the visitors were going to be relegated as the closest side to them, Caldy, were beating rival relegation candidates Birmingham Moseley 10-7.

But one final twist was yet to come, and on 76 minutes replacement winger Sam Yawayawa scored in the corner, giving the visitors the bonus point they needed to stay in National League One.