Ashton helps Saracens get back on track
Reports of Saracens’ demise have been greatly exaggerated. The champions banished the memories of a threematch run without a Premiership win with a familiar clinical 29-18 victory over Sale Sharks.
The win was Saracens’ first in the league since Jan 1 and followed a draw against Exeter and defeats at Worcester and Gloucester.
The last time Saracens went four Premiership matches without a win was in 2006 but they were never in danger of equalling that record despite Sale’s second-half fightback.
With a battalion of frontline players injured or on international duty, Saracens have looked unusually vulnerable in recent weeks but that is nothing new at Six Nations time. Last season Saracens lost three times during February and March but they recovered to retain their title.
“We got a good response from the players down at Kingsholm in terms of energy and effort in a difficult game and today was another step up again,” said Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall.
“We are really pleased with the attitude and how physical we were. Sometimes the barometer of how things are is how you defend and I thought we defended magnificently out there today.”
Chris Ashton, the Toulon-bound former England wing, was the catalyst in attack, helping to create tries for Duncan Taylor and Nathan Earle and scoring the other himself after openside flanker Joel Conlon had snaffled a Sale line-out.
But it was Brad Barritt, another man not required by England, and Jackson Wray, who is knocking on Eddie Jones’s door, who manned the barricades in the third quarter when Sale went in search of a losing bonus point after Magnus Lund had followed up Sam James’s grubber.
Elsewhere, Exeter moved to within a point of Premiership leaders Wasps with a hard-fought 36-14 victory over battling Newcastle at Sandy Park.
James Short scored two tries, with Harry Williams and Sam Skinner grabbing one each. There was a penalty-try award with Joe Simmonds converting four and adding a penalty.
Northampton secured their fifth successive home victory as they recovered from an early setback to see off Worcester 24-14.
The Warriors, who had started the day second bottom, stunned the home fans with a sixth-minute score from full-back Josh Adams.
But the Saints bounced back, registering two first-half tries, from England flanker Teimana Harrison and hooker Mike Haywood.
Stephen Myler added seven points with the boot to make it 17-7 at the break, and Haywood scored another try before the end.