What a result for a torrent at Saracens, Alex Sanderson's junior side deservedly won 20-10 to secure a semi-final in Bath on June 1. This Twickenham finals fixture last year was a tie in the final round of the Gallagher Premier League. 2nd vs. 4th with a lot at stake in North London.
Saracens, who have achieved a six-match winning streak, still need something to guarantee them qualification to the semi-finals at home in two weeks. Meanwhile, Sale needed another result to add to their last four straight wins to ensure they did not crash out of the playoffs agonizingly at the final hurdle.
In the end, it was the Manchester team, who had not won away to the London side in the league since the 2005/06 season when Vicarage Road was their home, who celebrated in the sun on Saturday.
A display run by George Ford and a hard-working supporting cast of several champions has left the Saracens looking ordinary and tired and they must now go away to table-toppers Northampton in the semi-final on May 31, where the reward-free result has left them falling from second to fourth.
You'd never have guessed it would end quite like this given a tense opening quarter where a high foul count equaled scoreboard stalemate. While early scores were flying at The Rec, Welford Road and The Stoop, nerves stifled the opening exchanges here.
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It was for initial yips sale. Ford went full throttle. A free kick was awarded at the guarantee ceremony, then a penalty kick at the restart. Elliot Daly, who kicked them from everywhere at Bristol last weekend, was wide on the right.
That was in the third minute and from there, the errors trickled down to a Saracens side who found themselves taking little or no lead as the game was reduced to a suffocating place between the 22nd minute.
Manu Tuilagi's exit with a hamstring injury in the 18th minute, after being brought down by Ben Earl, was the only thing of note before the opening score eagerly arrived.
Tom Roebuck was like Fred Astaire in the way he wove the Saracens defence, even leaving Ivan van Zyl on his backside with a final step inside.
Ford converted but Owen Farrell, who has now played his final game in StoneX before his move to Racing, quickly responded with a kick after a breakout infringement, and it was the half-field that was pivotal to the next big moment.
It initially looked like he wasted his time getting involved but it turned out he did enough to cause the breakaway that denied Luke Cowan-Dickie the go-ahead try he initially got in the 37th minute after Jamie George's throw-in just meters from his line. From behind.
However, the danger was not mitigated, as a Saracens pack collapse on their feed meant Ford ended the half with penalty points for a 10-3 lead.
The visiting half-hour was on the tee again early in the second half, scoring from distance, and we now had a thrilling closing half-hour in store with the Sharks two goals up and the previously raucous home atmosphere diminishing.
feature @SaleSharksRugby ?
Tom Roebuck broke the deadlock at StoneX Stadium to give the Northwestern team the lead #GallagherBrim | #Sarvsal pic.twitter.com/4fYqi0uEsI
– Premier Rugby (@premrugby) May 18, 2024
Having played so brilliantly in Bristol, Saracens were clearly in poor form and the scoreboard quickly turned away from them in disastrous fashion when a panicked Alex Lewington, brought in late after Sean Maitland pulled out in the warm-up, inexplicably gifted the team away. He sent the ball to Rob du Preez in the 52nd minute.
Ford added the extras and is now 20-3, an astonishing advantage considering the zero score in a tough opening quarter.
It was around this time at Twickenham 12 months ago, with sales progressing but equally so, when the Saracens Express took off at speed and there was a response here too.
Substitute Marco Riccione came on through a pick-and-go play in the 66th minute, with Farrell's kick reducing the deficit to 10-20. What had already been wrestling strikes were now more ferocious, but Sale showed they had learned a lot from last year's final, remaining calm right down the line to remain defensively composed and seal the deal.
Playoffs closed?@saints rugby Fifth @Muslims – Cinch Stadium at Franklin Gardens, May 31@BathRugby Fifth @SaleSharksRugby – Recommendation, June 1
Which sides will you make? #GallagherPremFinal? ?#GallagherBrim pic.twitter.com/DE56pBlaPM
– Premier Rugby (@premrugby) May 18, 2024
