FARRELL STARS AS SARACENS EDGE SALE IN PREMIERSHIP DECIDER

Owen Farrell orchestrated Saracens’ dramatic 35-25 win over Sale in a thrilling English Premiership final as the London club overcame environmental campaigners, injuries and determined opponents at a sun-drenched Twickenham.

The England fly half kicked 13 points and also shone with ball in hand during a match briefly interrupted by “Just Stop Oil” demonstrators.

The game was still in the balance until Saracens scored two tries in the final quarter, through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl. They then survived playing the last six minutes a man down after replacement prop Robin Hislop was yellow-carded.

The final had been billed as a contest between Farrell and Sale counterpart George Ford, who have 106 and 81 England caps respectively.

It was the second successive season where the childhood friends had faced off in the final, with Ford appearing for Leicester in their 15-12 win last term.

“This was not redemption,” Farrell, given a chance to shine by his pack, told BT Sport.

“We have moved on from last year ... It’s about getting the best out of ourselves as we felt that we closed up shop a bit in the final last year.”

Saracens led 6-3 after 14 minutes following two Farrell penalties and one from Ford.

Sarries lost hooker Jamie George to an apparent concussion in the 10th minute after he charged into England teammate Tom Curry and wing Sean Maitland also went off injured before half-time.

Play was briefly halted midway through the first half with the game level at 6-6 when two the protesters ran on to the field and sprinkled orange powder on the pitch before being removed by security staff.

Victory was sweet for Sarries, who agonisingly missed out on the title last year after Freddie Burns’ last-minute drop goal for Leicester. This was Saracens’ seventh Premiership final in 10 years, but their first title since 2019 following their relegation to the Championship for salary cap breaches in 2020.