Sale impress against frustrated Saracens

Editor

Sale Sharks continued their climb up the Premiership standings as they overcame an ill-disciplined and frustrated Saracens side 24-18 on Friday.

Sam James and Denny Solomona’s tries saw them to the four points as Saracens missed the chance to get a decent lead over Exeter at the summit.

The Sharks, on the back of an impressive victory at Gloucester, are moving in the right direction in their quest to become a top six team. This was another indication that they’re capable of maintaining this push as they move to fourth, provisionally at least, on the table.

Their backline is full of talent but it was the performance of centre James that caught the eye as he played a major role in this triumph.

However, it was the returning Bill Vunipola and Saracens who opened the scoring after seven minutes as the number eight finished powerfully after a lovely backline move had got them from the halfway to five metres out. Owen Farrell slotted the conversion as the visitors led 7-0.

Rob du Preez and Farrell then traded penalty goals before James combined nicely with Solomona to go over, bringing the hosts back to 10-8 down. Sale though were purring and a superb switch play on halfway created their second try, this time Solomona showing pace and a step to score.

15-10 became 15-13 on 30 minutes thanks to Farrell’s second penalty, but the fly-half was then harshly yellow carded for a seatbelt tackle. Sale subsequently set up camp in the Saracens 22 before another high shot, this time from Will Skelton, allowed Du Preez to make it 18-13.

Saracens’ frustrations continued in the second period as their scrum was frequently penalised while they also had issues at line-out time.

A yellow card for replacement hooker Christopher Tolofua on the hour was soon followed by Du Preez slotting a three points following back chat, which summed up the visitors’ feelings at that point. Sale were unmoved as they moved into an eight-point lead at 21-13 to the good.

Du Preez would all but put the seal victory with another penalty on 72 minutes and despite a late Saracens try from Nick Tompkins, they were well beaten on a night they’d like to forget.