It was the high-flying leaders who made the perfect start, Alex Schwarz crossing inside a minute, but a James Robins penalty got the Dogs on the board before he added to a Tom Walsh try.
Callum Grieve converted an Ellis Rudder score before slotting three points for 15-10, only for Robins to again hit the target after Alfie Longstaff crossed.
A Grieve penalty nudged ‘Mond narrowly ahead at the break, but Sale scored 15 unanswered second-half points – man-of-the-match Longstaff completing a hat-trick and Walsh doubling his tally – to secure a superb triumph.
Titans maintain form
Title-chasing Rotherham Titans kept pace at the top with a fine 45-26 triumph at Dings Crusaders.
The sides went toe-to-toe in the early exchanges as Jamie Elswood first added to a Tom Foot try for the hosts, Charlie Capps and Lloyd Hayes levelling up soon after.
George Boulton and Hayes exchanged converted scores before Tom Gollop nudged Dings 19-14 in front, only for Titans to hit back and secure the bonus-point before the break as Callum Bustin and Tomaso Tanumi touched down.
With Hayes adding to the first Rotherham had a nine-point interval lead, and they pulled further clear thanks to tries from Luke Cole, Zak Poole and Bustin’s second, JB Bruzulier and Hayes slotting further conversions.
And while Dings grabbed a try bonus through Sam Smith’s late try, it was merely a consolation.
Esher stun Park
In-form Rosslyn Park’s promotion hopes took a knock as they were stunned 54-42 in a wild encounter which boosted Esher’s survival efforts.
Jake Morris opened the scoring for the Eees before Park responded through Jasper Cameron, Josh Bragman with the extras.
Alex McLean and James Botterill crossed for the hosts before Bragman added to an Arthur Ellis score and Cameron’s second.
Sam Morley landed after Ben Robbins touched down to nudge Esher in front, but it was 28-22 at the break following a converted Harry Ledger try.
The hosts flew out the blocks at the start of the second period, Harry Faulkner crossing before Morley added five points with the boot.
The fly-half was again on target after Myles Rawstron-Rudd went over for 39-28, another penalty extending the lead further.
Yet Bragman converted after Cameron completed his hat-trick to keep Park alive, Morley’s try responded to by Conrade Cade, Bragman’s kick making it 47-42.
However, Esher sealed the deal as Owen Waters touched down, Morley finishing the scoring with another conversion.
Five on the spin for Albion
Plymouth Albion are up to fifth following a dramatic 33-32 victory at Birmingham Moseley.
Jack Jolly converted an early Ben Pogson for the hosts before Tom Putt kicked two penalties for Albion, Harry Wilkinson then crossing to nudge them ahead.
A Morgan Adderley-Jones try restored the Birmingham lead, but Plymouth came on strongly as Putt added to Wilkinson’s second and Angus Hodges went over.
A Jolly penalty made it 23-15 at the break, but Albion moved further clear with a converted Jack Oulton effort.
Jolly was on target after a Morgan Dawes score and then kicked a penalty, Putt replying in kind to make it an eight-point game.
Moseley closed to within a point with 12 minutes remaining, Jolly converting Tommy Taylor’s try, but gutsy Plymouth held on for a fifth straight win.
Tigers in form
Sedgley Park continued to move clear of relegation trouble with an impressive 22-19 success at Bishop’s Stortford.
Tigers, who have lost just once in six games, hit the front early as Danny Rylance dotted down, Warren Seals with the extras.
Stortford replied via Harrison Langworthy and Tom Mills, but it was 14-7 to Sedge at half-time thanks to Matt Law and Seals.
Mills was on target after Chris Bolton’s try to equalise, but Seals kicked a penalty before touching down to leave Tristan Smith’s late score not quite enough.
Blackheath’s trip to Darlington Mowden Park was postponed due to a frozen pitch, while Rams moved top following a 36-19 win at Leicester Lions.
