SALE FC stay on the heels of National Three North leaders Sandal after a 25-12 victory over Rossendale.

But the in-form visitors made them fight all the way with the game in the balance right up to the last few minutes.

Second-placed Sale are four points behind Sandal after a victory which over a side who had won eight of their previous nine games.

An early Liam McGovern penalty gave Sale the lead but the visitors came back strongly to have territorial advantage in the first quarter. Rossendale went ahead when Sale were penalised late in the first quarter and Rossendale scrum half Jamie Albinson touched down and full back Steve Nutt added the conversion.

There followed a period of play where neither side had a distinct advantage but Sale gradually began to impose more pressure on the visitors.

A strong run from Danny Waddy took play into the Rossendale 22 and with the opposition penalised for offside Sale drove hard at the line to put Joe Kelly over for a try converted by McGovern to give Sale a 10-7 lead at half time.

There was still little between the sides in the second half although Sale repeatedly tested the Rossendale defences.

A Sale pass was intercepted by Nutt in his own 22 and he ran 75 metres for a try to restore the visitor' lead.

Five minutes later the Lancastrians lost centre Tom Albinson to the sin bin and McGovern kicked a penalty to put Sale back in front at 13-12.

With 15 minutes remaining Rossendale had a second player sin-binned and Sale took advantage when a fine move by Ciaran Connolly and Chris Mayor eventually put McGovern over for a try which he also converted.

With five minutes remaining and Rossendale in home territory they fumbled the ball at a scrum and Sale’s Adam Aigbokhae gained possession and raced in from 50 metres for the final try of the match to secure a hard-earned win.