SALE director of rugby Jonathan Keep was over the moon to secure a home play-off place with a bonuspoint win for his side over Otley.
An exciting end to the season worked out well for both clubs after Otley had retained their league status with a win at neighbouring Harrogate last Saturday.
Sale, already in the playoff positions, came to Cross Green knowing a win would secure them a home fixture for the play-offs which they claimed with a display of perpetual strong running.
“I am delighted to secure the home fixture although this was not their best performance of the season,” said Keep.
“Otley, the creative side that they are, gave us much to think about but it will be a great day for the club with promotion the prize for another successful performance.”
Sale started strongly but found Otley terrier-like in their approach, snuffing out the visitors' attacks and every ready to run back from any position.
Otley though found themselves penned in their own half, conceding a penalty on their 22, with Sale full-back Liam McGovern kicking with ease after eight minutes.
TEAMS
OTLEY: Hodson, Beaumont, Roberts, Mackie, Petchey, Blakeney-Edwards, Johnson (Copeland 33), Birkenshaw (Moss 41), Steele, Blades, (Kivalu (41), Cook (Dunn 30), Willett, Dunn (Coady 22), O'Donnell, Scott-Paul
SALE: McGovern, Stelmaszek, Odogwu (Davenport 66), Davenport (Rawlings 60), Moorhouse, Johnson, Bradley (Hayles), Birchall (Sanderson 60), Longmore (Briggs 50), Aigbokhae, Davies, Postlethwaite, Rawlings, Bache, Ailes
REFEREE: Claire Hodnett
ATTENDANCE: 412
Star man
Matthew Postlethwaite – Sale
When they finally mounted their first serious attack, Otley were awarded a penalty which they used to set up a lineout on 20 metres. From there, they harassed the visitors' line three times and were nearly over before being held and eventually losing possession.
Sale then kicked a penalty to the corner and a strong driving maul took the forwards to the line for lock William Davies to score. And they returned immediately moving the ball from a five-metre scrum with scrum-half Matthew Bradley nipping over.
Otley were beginning to find some fire despite the tries and just before the break centre Henry Roberts sliced through to go in under the posts and provide a simple conversion for fly-half Jack Blakeney-Edwards to post a 7-13 half-time score.
Otley came out full of spirit after the break and were looking dangerous but a long, high pass was picked out the air by Paolo Odogwu who galloped 40m unopposed to the posts, McGovern converted.
A penalty then gave Sale another five-metre scrum to set up a drive which took replacement hooker Scott Briggs over the tryline.
Otley struck back when Roberts took an inside pass from winger Alexander Beaumont to run around to the posts, Blakeney- Edwards converting.
But that was the end of their resistance as further tries for Sale came from substitute Scott Rawlings, winger Jack Moorhousea and Sam Stelmaszek all flew over late on.
McGovern added three late conversions to add further gloss to the scoreline.
Otley director of rugby Peter Clegg said: “It's a disappointing end for us and we must strive to improve our fitness and strength. We have shown glimpses of our capabilities but now we must do it consistently.”
