Sale are punished by slick Saracens
SARACENS 36 SALE SHARKS 22
SALE lost ground on Gallagher Premiership leaders Exeter after slipping to defeat at Saracens.
Tries by Rhys Carre, Rotimi Segun, Nick Isiekwe and Richard Barrington helped the already relegated Londoners make it 13 consecutive home wins against the Sharks at Allianz Park.
Sale crossed the line through Byron McGuigan, Dan Du Preez and Rob Du Preez, but missed the chance to gain ground in the top-four race, although they remain third.
And despite dreadful conditions as Storm Dennis took control, Sale’s director of rugby Steve Diamond refused to blame the elements for their defeat, which came just eight days after beating Saracens in the semi-final of the Premiership Rugby Cup at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond refused to blame the weather for Sale’s performance in London against a side who had seven players missing due to the Six Nations.
He said: “We come from Manchester, it pours it down every day. We trained with the wind all week, but it was just a bit more experience in their team to put us to the sword in that first half.
“Fair play to Saracens, their strength of depth runs deep.
“Players come in and stay in structure and they did that really well.
“I think we’ve been playing well over the past six weeks, we just didn’t play (today), we didn’t get past one phase. I’m a little bit disappointed with that.”
Manu Vunipola, on return from England Under-20s duty, scored 13 points for the hosts as kickers dominated play despite it the blustery conditions. Within 60 seconds, the Sharks lost a lineout and Rhys Carre gathered the loose ball and carried it over for Sarries.
Rob Du Preez scored a penalty to put the Sharks on the scoreboard, but hen the hosts capitalised on three penalties after a host of Sale errors. Two were converted by Vunipola and one by Alex Lozowski.
Sale got a try back right on halftime. Springbok Dan Du Preez broke through the back line, instigating some beautiful passes which ended with the ball in the hands of McGuigan who took it over. Rob Du Preez’s conversion reduced Sale’s deficit to just four points at the break.
Saracens were also the first to score in the second half, with Rotimi Segun’s try right in the far corner after a period of sustained pressure.
After Vunipola’s two-pointer, referee Wayne Barnes awarded Saracens a penalty for dissent from McGuigan which was kicked from the halfway line for another three points by Vunipola.
Lock Isiekwe scored Saracens’ next try after 55 minutes and Vunipola hit his conversion against the posts.
Richard Barrington then scored after playing advantage following a penalty call. Vunipola’s fifth successful kick gave Sarries a 26-point cushion going into the last 11 minutes.
Dan Du Preez drove over the line with nine minutes to go and Rob Du Preez got another with a minute left on the clock.