Defences dominated, attacking rugby at a premium as both sides repeatedly incurred the displeasure of referee Ben Davis in the post-tackle phase. Goalkickers dominated the scoreboard, the only try a long range effort created by Sale no.8 Tom Ailes.

Captain Ciaran Moore, scrum half Ben Tibbetts and tighthead Mark George all returned from a week’s rest, with Joe Carpenter making his first start of the season at openside. Jack Lea dropped to the bench with Billy Harding switching back to hooker.

Stour kicked off in bright sunshine with first use of a light breeze, the Heywood Road playing surface in ideal condition. They showed early promise when a set of pick & drives set up a platform for fullback Rod Petty to break into Sale’s 22, but his offload to centre Joe Heatley went loose. In an early sign of things to come Stour’s pack shoved Sale’s scrum into reverse but they managed to scramble a clearance kick. And although their scrum dominance was to bring them a steady flow of penalties, Stour’s lineout misfired all too often, supplying easy turnover ball that Sale looked to run back at them.

Sale failed to defuse a Garryowen from outside half Luke White, Heatley securing a penalty for holding on that White stepped up to slot from just under 40m out. 13min 0-3 and - with their scrum creaking under pressure from Stour loosehead Tom Harrison - Sale subbed their tighthead prop. A similar offence gave White another shot from approaching 45m that he landed comfortably. 18min 0-6. A knock-on gave Sale scrum feed deep in their own midfield, with their pack going backwards the circumstances were hardly auspicious but no.8 Tom Ailes picked up under pressure, broke the first up tackle and showed the defences a clean pair of heels. With Stour winger Ash Elvers closing in he fed the ball to centre Jack Moorhouse who crashed over in the corner, fullback Liam McGovern landing a difficult conversion. 24min 7-6.

Emboldened, Sale continued to run at Stour, a clean break by loosehead Dan Birchall creating a threatening attack that reached the 22 before Moorhouse was penalised for side entry. With Sale’s scrum shipping penalties Stour looked to turn the screw by kicking for territory but their lineout continued to cough possession back up. White was offered another long range kick at goal when a Sale tackler failed to roll away but it drifted wide, the half ended with Sale pressing an attack that was comfortably contained by the Stour defences. Halftime 7-6.

White regained the lead for Stour with a 40m touchline effort when Sale were penalised for playing a man off the ball. 48min 7-9. Replacement hooker Jack Lea replaced Joe Carpenter with Billy Harding moving to openside. Sale launched a sustained assault on the Stour line but the defences held firm and a lineout turnover by 2nd row Chris Depper allowed them to clear. A half-break by no.8 Ciaran Moore set up a promising set of Stour phases but they too found themselves penalised for holding on in the tackle. A further infringement for side entry gave Sale outside half Chris Johnson a 45m kick at goal that he landed comfortably. 61min 10-9, Stour then penalised for holding on in the tackle in much the same location for Johnson to strike again. 63min 13-9.

A further penalty stalled Stour’s next attack and as the clock would down they found themselves deep in their 22 defending, but they held out, secured a turnover and cleared. But the hosts had the final say when they hoofed the ball off the park to secure a win, Stour taking a well-earned losing bonus point to leave them 5th in the N2N table.

This Sat Stour host struggling Yorkshire Dales outfit Wharfedale, ko 3pm. Stourbridge Lions are also at home taking on Stafford.