A TYNEDALE side seriously weakened by injuries and unavailability were ruthlessly swept aside by born again Sale on Saturday.

Both sides were knee deep in the relegation mire last season, and although they both escaped there would seem to be no such problems for Sale this time round.

Tynedale struggled to contain a strong Cheshire side who had recruited well over the summer, as well as having the benefit of a couple of talented players from the Sale Sharks academy.

They ran in six converted tries to top National League Division Two North with three wins out of three.

Tynedale could only manage one converted try, late in the game, and their woes were compounded by the sending off of lock Jonny Cousin in the dying minutes for a stamping offence.

This followed a yellow card at the end of the first half for fellow second rower Graeme Dunn, as Tynedale creaked under pressure,

Tynedale were in with a shout for most of the first half, as Dan Taylor was obliged to move out to fly half, following the cry-off of regular number 10 Ash Smith on the morning of the game.

Also playing out of position was hooker Louis Frankland, who found himself in the back row, in the position where brother Ben made such a sensational impact a couple of seasons ago.

Centre Will Miller threatened on occasion, while Jack Harrison and Matty Outson as usual contributed a lot in terms of organisation.

The scrummage and line-out by and large held up well but Tynedale lacked real penetration out wide and the defence was at times at sixes and sevens against some very talented Sale backs.

The match kicked off in glorious sunshine, and it was first blood to Tynedale on nine minutes.

A try seemed likely when winger Aedon Maloney powered through, and although he was well tackled, Sale offended at the breakdown, allowing Taylor to slot a penalty.

Sale came roaring back though, slick passing producing two converted tries in opposite corners within 10 minutes to make it 14-3.

Tynedale fought back to win a penalty but the kick slid wide, and worse was to follow when a promising Tynedale move was ended by a bad pass, and Sale scooped up the loose ball to run in another converted try.

Taylor struck a second penalty to bring it back to 21-6, but a drop goal took the score to 24-6 at the break.

Graeme Dunn’s yellow card just on half time scuppered hopes of a good start to the second period, and two more converted tries made it 38-6 after 55 minutes.

A superb breakaway on the left wing by Jack Harrison from Tynedale’s own 22 gave the visitors hope, as he slipped the scoring pass to full back Oli Walker for what was the first try Sale had conceded all season.

Taylor converted to bring the score to 38-13, but Sale remained confident, and rounded things off with their sixth try following a fine crossfield kick.

Wharfedale are the visitors to Corbridge on Saturday, when Tynedale hope to get their season back on track.

The Yorkshiremen seemed permanent fixtures in North Division One until their surprise relegation last season, and they will be hoping to bounce straight back up again.

Like Tynedale, they have lost two of their first three games, and last Saturday saw them achieve their first win, a high scoring 51-33 success against newly promoted Hinckley. Lots of points could be on offer in a match which kicks off at 3pm.