Saracens ease past 14-man Sale Sharks

Planet Rugby

Saracens' Max Malins scores their side's third try of the game during the Gallagher Premiership match at the StoneX Stadium, London. Picture date: Sunday November 28, 2021.

Saracens were too strong for a mistake-ridden Sale Sharks side as they moved up to second place in the Premiership after claiming a 25-14 triumph on Sunday.

The Londoners controlled the opening period and went into the break 13-0 ahead thanks to Vincent Koch’s try and two Alex Lozowski penalties.

Sale actually began the second period well but their good work was undone by a moment of madness from Byron McGuigan, who was sent-off for an altercation with Nick Tompkins.

Although the Sharks battled hard and scored twice through Ben Curry and Raffi Quirke, Sarries sealed the win as Sean Maitland and Max Malins crossed the whitewash.

Click here for teams and scorers

Saracens climbed to second in the table and it looked ominous when they built a 10-point lead in the first quarter with Koch finishing a lineout drive and Lozowski landing the conversion and a penalty.

But Sale were also their own worst enemy as AJ MacGinty kicked out on the full and Quirke spilt forwards a simple catch just outside his 22, inviting pressure on to the Sharks.

Although trailing the scoreboard, they continued to control possession and territory as they attacked with purpose and at speed.

Once again, however, they shot themselves in the foot as a short-range scrum ended in a free-kick awarded against them and then another 10 metres were conceded for backchat to referee Thomas Foley.

MacGinty was denied Sale’s opening points by the woodwork but the one-way traffic continued with Saracens unable to escape their half, although a dummy and run from Vunipola did eventually get them moving forwards.

It proved to be the launchpad for another sucker punch as Saracens moved downfield and forced a penalty which Lozowski sent between the uprights.

Sale lost captain Jono Ross to a failed head injury assessment, ushering Tom Curry on the pitch, and the second half began with the Sharks camped on the home whitewash in their most threatening period in the match.

But the attack came to a violent halt when McGuigan lost his head and was shown a red card.

It took only four minutes for Saracens to take advantage of McGuigan’s absence as Vunipola showed his vision to create a hole in midfield and then send Maitland strolling over.

The home defence had been watertight but a loss of concentration in the 62nd minute allowed Ben Curry to dart over from five metres out and the score revitalised the 2006 champions.

A knock-on ended their next attack and once wing Rotimi Segun had placed Saracens back on to the front foot, Alex Goode’s clever pass sent Malins over.

Quirke replied for Sale but their fightback had already been extinguished.