WHILE Rams enjoyed a weekend off ahead of Saturday’s opening National One home game against Sale FC, there were several of our rivals in action.

Sale themselves issued notice of their credentials with a 40-33 home victory against Champ side Caldy.

The hosts took the lead as Jack Mitchell converted a Wills Austin effort, only for their opponents to score 19 unanswered points.

Mitchell was on target after Jack Pinder crossed with the final play of the first half, and The Dogs then surged clear themselves.

Oli Longmore, Pete Vickers and Saba Asyanti all touched down with the metronomic Mitchell making it 35-19.

A pair of converted Caldy tries made it a two-point game midway through the final quarter, but Corbin Thunder’s effort closed the game out for Sale.

A much-changed Plymouth Albion side went down 31-26 to Exeter University under the Brickfields floodlight, while London Scottish won 22-7 at Esher.

Birmingham Moseley defeated visitors Hinckley 31-22.

The hosts flew out the traps and led 19-0 following tries from Austin Nevitt, Elliott Creed and Jack Condliffe, plus two Harry Read conversions.

Hinckley got off the mark with a Sam McNulty try, but Read was on target again after Fin Smith went over.

The visitors reduced the arrears to 26-10 before the break, but Oliver Read then gave Birmingham breathing space.

And while Hinckley collected two more tries, one converted, they were merely consolations.

Rhodri Campbell and Cuchulain Livingstone touched down for Sheffield, but they were edged out 14-12 by Tigers in their Steel City derby. Callum Posa kicked one conversion for the visitors.

Leeds Tykes beat visitors Otley 54-26.

Camborne, Cambridge, Dings Crusaders, Bishop’s Stortford, Bury St Edmunds, Rosslyn Park and Tonbridge Juddians joined Rams in not having a game.

To book tickets and lunch for the Sale game on Saturday, click here