SALE lost out in a game of two halves encounter at at Heywood as Chester came back from 5-24 down early in the second half to take the spoils 29-31.

The hosts secured early points when Chester were penalised just outside their 22 and Liam McGovern made no mistake with the penalty.

The visitors came back strongly and on 10 minutes secured their first points when full back James Preston raced in for the try to give the visitors a two-point lead.

Five minutes later Sale’s Mark Lawrence gained possession on the half way line and produced an arcing run before moving back inside to find a gap in the Chester defence to score under the posts and with McGovern adding the conversion Sale led 10-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Strong running from Sam Stelmaszek put Sale on the front foot once more and with good support taking play well into the Chester half a long pass from Stelmaszek to Tom Ailes saw the flanker release winger Elliott Fletcher for a try and McGovern secured the conversion from wide out on the touchline.

Sale produced some confident play and came close to another score before being penalised just metres from the Chester try line as they continued to have the better of territory as the first half drew to a close.

Five minutes into the second half superb handling by the Sale squad saw Adam Aigbokhae creating a break before Adam Greendale finished off the move with a try and McGovern again made no mistake with the extra points for a 24-5 lead.

Chester responded strongly using their pack to good effect and lock Tom Gregory crashed over for a try converted by Rhys Hayes to bring the visitors back within 12 points.

That try was the precursor to a purple patch of rugby from the visitors as they scored three tries in the space of 12 minutes.

An excellent move saw Chester’s Ali Miller race in for the first, and winger John Ketland score a further two with Hayes adding two conversions as the visitors claimed a seven-point lead.

Sale came back once again and with play inside the Chester 22 Stelmaszek fired a long pass out to Ciaran Connolly who claimed a fine try to narrow the gap to two points.

In the final minute more excellent handling from Sale saw Connolly again racing for the line but the referee deemed the ball was not grounded and the chance of victory had gone.