BATTLING Rams suffered a heart-breaking 22-21 defeat at high-flying Sale as a James Robins penalty with the last kick of the game gave the hosts their seventh consecutive National One victory.
The visitors suffered a brace of blows even before the kick-off as firstly captain Robbie Stapley was forced out due to the impending birth of his second child, and then his replacement as skipper, Tom Vooght, tweaked a calf in the warm-up.
Yet despite this double setback – which saw Vince Everitt and James McRae step into the back row and Connor Stapley come onto the bench – the away side weathered an early storm before taking the lead.
The outstanding Ollie Cole took a quick tap penalty in his own half before surging some 30 metres upfield, the ball recycled to allow Connor Hayhow to find Henry Bird for the wing’s ninth try of the season.
Drew Humberstone added the extras and then repeated the trick when the electric Cole again went quickly to snipe over from 10 metres out.
Sale hit back, however, and got on the scoreboard themselves when a long mis-pass found full back Joe Carpenter who showed quick feet to dance his way over the line.
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Rams then lost their third captain of the day, Jamie Guttridge, to a hand injury, but their perseverance in the face of adversity – and some magnificent play – ensured they went 21-5 up when Robins was adjudged to have illegally brought down a rolling maul to donate a penalty try.
The fly-half was also sin-binned for his troubles, although Rams were also reduced to 14 men when Henry Bird was harshly adjudged to have deliberately knocked on.
Rams defence held up well towards the end of the half as they led 21-5 at the interval, and they completely bossed the third quarter.
With Sale lock Rhys Davies carded for again infringing with a line-out near the try-line, Rams camped for almost the whole of the third quarter in their opponents’ 22.
However, a lack of clinical finishing meant they failed to turn a succession of line-outs and scrums into what would almost certainly have been a match-winning score.
And they were made to pay when the Dogs gave themselves hope as the prolific Jack Metcalf carved his way over for a score Robins converted.
Things got even better for the hosts when they grabbed a third try, this time through hooker Ollie Longmore at the back of a maul.
Robins added the extras to cut the deficit to two points with eight minutes remaining, but Rams regathered themselves and seemingly had the game under control.
However, they lost Max Hayman to a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, and after Sale worked their way into the visitors half, Robins landed a 30-metre kick awarded for a breakdown infringement to snatch a dramatic victory for his side.
