Saracens too good for Sale
Saracens won their first Premiership game since New Years Day beating Sale Sharks 29-18 at Allianz Park on Saturday.
Tries from Duncan Taylor, Chris Ashton and Nathan Earle secured the victory, while Alex Lozowski put in another impressive kicking performance in a testing breeze.
Sale found replies through Cameron Neild and Magnus Lund, whose second half try was his first since 2007 in the Premiership.
The uncertain conditions were obvious from the outset when Will Addison’s seemingly simple first minute penalty needed the help of the post to find it’s way over.
Saracens hit back soon after however, with Marcelo Bosch looping a pass to the left wing to give full-back Taylor the chance to slide over in the corner. Lozowski’s touchline conversion had the legs, but not the accuracy, meaning that replacement AJ MacGinty’s first penalty put the visitors back in to the lead from 45 metres out.
The young fly-half opened his account a minute later with a penalty, before Saracens extended their lead having stolen a Sharks lineout.
Richard Wigglesworth’s well-judged box kick was collected by wing Ashton, who spun past Mike Haley to carry over. Lozowski converted, before adding another penalty with the final kick of the half to take a 21-6 lead in to the break despite Sale’s promising start.
It was a resurgent Sharks side that re-emerged for the second half though, and they found the next score when flanker Lund grounded Sam James’ grubber kick under the posts. MacGinty converted a simple kick from in front of the posts.
The home side extended their lead to 11 points from the boot of Lozowski, before wing Earle was set up in the corner to score his first Premiership try against the run of play, which wasn’t converted.
Sale’s second half performance was rewarded with a second try when they turned over inside Saracens’ 22, before replacement flanker Neild rolled over the line having not been held.
MacGinty’s conversion looked to be sailing over, but was blown back by the wind and stayed out.
The London club went close in the final knockings of the game, playing until the 83rd minute, but the ball was eventually knocked on and they were unable to acquire the try scoring bonus point.
The scorers:
For Saracens:
Tries: Taylor, Ashton, Earle
Con: Lozowski
Pens: Lozowski 4
For Sale:
Tries: Lund, Nield
Con: MacGinty
Pens: Addison, MacGinty
Saracens: 15 Duncan Taylor, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Brad Barritt (c), 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Alex Lozowski, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jackson Wray, 7 Joel Conlon, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Titi Lamositele
Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 Petrus du Plessis, 19 Mark Flanagan, 20 Samu Vunisa, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Max Malins, 23 Matt Gallagher
Sale Sharks: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Denny Solomona, 13 Will Addison (c), 12 Mark Jennings, 11 Josh Charnley, 10 Sam James, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Josh Beaumont, 7 Magnus Lund, 6 TJ Ioane, 5 George Nott, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison
Replacements: 16 Cameron Neild, 17 James Flynn, 18 Kieran Longbottom, 19 Tom Curry, 20 David Seymour, 21 Peter Stringer, 22 AJ MacGinty, 23 Johnny Leota
Referee: Tim Wigglesworth
Assistant Referees: Simon McConnell, Roy Maybank
TMO: David Rose