RAMS Director of Rugby Seb Reynolds admitted a slow start to the second half allied to a high error-count and an inability to retain possession were decisive in his side’s 31-17 reverse at Sale FC.
The visitors were beaten for the first time this term in abysmal conditions up north, the rain piling down throughout a full-blooded contest between two great rivals.
Sale took the lead as Nathan Langdon barrelled over at the back of a maul, Joe Green with the extras, only for Willo Bicknell to hit back for the visitors.
A converted Evan Mintern seven-pointer was nullified by a penalty try for Rams, Fergus Mulchrone sent to the sin-bin for pulling down a maul with the final-play of the first half.
However, his absence was overcome by The Dogs, Toby Wilson’s converted try extending the lead to 21-12 before his side returned to 15 men.
And from there they pulled further clear, Alfie Longstaff riding over a maul, Green with five more points from the tee in a perfect display before Morgan MacRae grabbed a last-play consolation for Rams.
Reflecting on a fifth straight reverse since March 2022 at Heywood Road, Reynolds remained upbeat but admitted: “It didn’t go our way and Sale thoroughly deserved their victory.
“I was pleased with the way when we entered their 22 we came away with points – the problem was we barely managed to do it in the second half!
“They controlled the middle of the park very well and their line-out functioned incredibly in difficult conditions – they got the ball to the middle and produced what they wanted to do.
“Their nine also managed the field superbly and those elements meant it was always going to be hard to chase the game.
“I think that’s where we lost the game because they were able to enter our 22 cheaply and in these conditions, it wins the game.”
Commenting on the start of the second period and his side’s approach, the head coach continued: “We would have wanted to be pressuring them in their half, but there were a couple of penalties, a couple of errors, we didn’t exit how we’d want and suddenly they grab a try and when you’re two scores behind, it becomes very hard to come back.
“I was pleased with our physicality and work-rate, it was just unfortunate we coughed up the ball too often, but that happens.
“I don’t mind the mistakes because playing expansively is what we’ve asked the guys to do – it would have been hard to say everything we’ve done in the past 10 weeks, you can’t do that.
“Perhaps we could have been more conservative, but we’re getting to know the guys and it’s important we don’t over-prescribe too much.
“It’s a new side with loads of new faces, Mike Cooke at fly-half, Morgan (MacRae) transitioning to 12, Willo (Bicknell) coming in at No. 8 and we just have to learn how to play in these conditions, but I also thought we did some good stuff.”
One such moment came right at the end as captain Max Hayman out-ran Sale replacement scrum-half to prevent a charge-down try from half-way, the visitors then having the final word through MacRae.
And Reynolds ended: “I’m pleased with what the guys are doing and it was another 80 minutes of hard work – Max chasing back to make sure they didn’t go a further score ahead and it turning round into us getting one right at the end, was good.
“I also cannot thank our supporters enough – many had a tricky journey with stoppages on the motorway, coming though a lot of traffic and then it’s been tipping down with rain all afternoon.
“You expect it in December and January, but regardless, we’re sorry we couldn’t get the result and we’ll try and put it right next week.”
Rams host Tonbridge Juddians on Saturday (3pm).
