There was late heartbreak for Cinderford as Sale snatched victory with a converted try in the last play of their National One clash at Heywood Road.
The visitors started brightly and opened the scoring in the 2nd minute when centre Jake Shortland raced through a gap in the home defence to score a try, which Joe Winfield converted. Play was well contested for remainder of the first half with the defences of both teams to the fore, however right on the half-time whistle Winfield kicked a penalty to make it 0-10 at the interval.
Sale came out in determined mood in the second half and prop Tye Raymond soon crashed over from close range, with James Robins adding the conversion. More pressure deep in their opponent’s territory then resulted in a second try for the home team from Andy Hughes, which Robins converted. Cinderford re-grouped and began to apply the pressure at the other end of the pitch, and they re-took the lead in the 76th minute when Nathan Taylor was driven over from a 5m lineout catch and drive.
Then came the dramatic conclusion when the visitors failed to clear to touch the home team recycled the ball through numerous phases before Hughes crashed over for his second try, with Tom Parkin adding the conversion.
Cinderford; Mike Wilcox, Will Baldwin, Jake Shortland, Max Knight, Alex Forrester, Joe Winfield, Tom Knight, George Porter, Nathan Taylor, James Elliot, Danny Hodge, Callum Thompson, Jack Shields, Joe Mullis, George Angell.
Repls; Harry Edwards, Shaun Knight, Dec Fissenden, Sam Allford, Jamie Forrester.