Sale hero Walsh weaves his magic

By TOM BARRY

Sale FC…………………24

Cinderford………….. 17

Sale FC got their promotion bid back on track with a home win against Cinderford.

The second-placed hosts, who lost their first home match of the season last weekend, were on their game from the kick-off as winger Tom Walsh raced in from 30 metres out. Tom Curtis kicked the conversion before adding a penalty to make it 10-0.

A penalty try got the visitors on the scoreboard, but the Dogs extended the lead when Neville Edwards darted over, with Curtis again converting to make it 17-7 at half-time.

Another score came one minute after the restart as Jordan Tebbatt’s kick was booted on by Walsh and he won the foot race for his second. Curtis converted.

Sale then introduced impressive prop Rikki Stout for his debut after joining the club on loan from Rotherham Titans.

But it was the visitors who found new momentum, with scrum-half Michael Austin scoring their second try. Austin also converted and then rescued a losing bonus point for the visitors as he slotted a late penalty.

Meanwhile, Sale legend Richard Trickey was presented with a portrait to mark 60 years at the club and the 50th year since he played in a North West Counties team that beat the touring All Blacks.