The match started as it did last week with a Saracens error, Ivan van Zyl kicking straight out having taken the ball back into the Saracens 22. Saracens won the line out however, then the next one as a Sale player touched the ball as it was kicked up the pitch. Owen Farrell possibly mis-kicked the ball out for a 3rd early line out, Sale won that one.
The 1st scrum came in the 4th minute, re-set on the first attempt, Sale were awarded a penalty as the front row collapsed, with Mako Vunipola being penalised. That meant the 4th line out wa sin a very dangerous spot, Saracens haven’t done well on defending close to their own line. Sale didnlty come up with the ball from the line out however.
Saracens were then awarded a penalty after the next line out giving Saracens a good position. A smart kick through from Goode saw Gus Warr forced to take the ball into touch, cue another line out, the throw wasn’t straight this time so a wasted opportunity for Saracens. The next scrum was kind of competed and Sale came away with the ball before it was dropped. Maro Itoje picked yet ball up and the end result was a penalty for Saracens. Farrell kicked the penalty successfully.
Alec Clarey gave away a penalty on the middle of the pitch, kickable by George Ford on a decent night, but this was a windy one and Ford kicked for touch. Sale spread the ball beautifully across the pitch one way then back, a kick through went close to hands but ultimately went into touch. Saracens won the line out and cleared the ball for yet another line out. Saracens gave away a penalty in the line out, the referee then had to speak to Farrell after Jamie George had gone back at him after Juan Marti Gonzalez gave away the penalty, the 10 metre walk for that chat put Sale in a great position and Augustin Creevy was not going to be stopped. Ford added the extras.
The next scrum saw another penalty awarded to Sale, the way the front row crumpled looked just awful! A great kick by Ford gave Sale another great platform. A piece of Ford magic saw them go very close, but th Saracens defenders gave away another penalty after Ford had been stopped, a key intercept by van Zyl. Sale took the scrum and won a penalty, they then off course re-set as you would. The scrum collapsed but was re-set with no penalty, the 3rd attempt collapsed again, Mr Tempest did seem to allow them to play on but the ball was knocked on. The 4th attempt…….. Saracens were awarded a penalty, the Assistant Referee intervened on this one. A breather for Saracens.
Saracens won a penalty after the line out, van Zyl took a quick tao, the ball was spun out too Lucio Cinti who wasn’t far enough forward, he knocked on and Sale attacked, eventually the ball ended up back with Saracens and touch on the original side. Gonzalez was ‘clobbered’ off the ball, caught by surprise it was a nasty one, a fair tackle, but a penalty all the same. Saracens played the ball but it was eventually knocked on by Farrell. Sale won a penalty in the scrum, again.
he first half finished with Sale Sharks boo’s as Ivan van Zyl intercepted a Ford pass to run in free to score under the posts, Farrell added the extras which gave Saracens a 3 point lead as the teams went in a half-time.
A bizarre start to the 2nd half when Farrell kicked the ball up in the air, straight up in the air, Saracens won the ball but lost it moments later after another Farrell kick went into a Sale boot. Rob du Preez should have passed to his winger, Tom Roebuck and there was a sure fire opportunity. There was another knock on as Sale progressed and this time Sale came away fro0m the scrum with the ball, Roebuck did score this time after a lovely pop pass from Ford, the powered through with both Saracens Centres on his back. Ford missed the conversion but Sale had a 2 point lead in a tight game.
Alec Clarey gave away a penalty for a high tackle and it was rightly checked, to plenty of boo’s. It was a shoulder straight to the head, the team took a long time to check and proffered a yellow card. The rationale was reasonable but unpopular with the home crowd understandably.
A great kick took Sale close and Saracens have struggled to defend a rolling maul with 15 men this season it was predictable;e this one would roll over, with Luke Cowan Dickie scoring his 1st Sale try. The conversion hit the post and went through. That was a 9 point lead.
Saracens had a great attacking spell but Sale defended well, giving away a penalty they conceded just the 3 points rather than a try. A couple of knock ons one each way saw a couple of scrums that actually resulted in the ball coming out to the team putting in. Ford stretched the lead with another penalty awarded in the scrum. That gave Sale a 9 point lead again with 15 minutes remaining.
Saracens scored against the run of play with a try for Gareth Simpson after Itoje broke after a line out that had looked to have gone wrong for Saracens, Sale knocked the ball on and Hugh Tizard ended up with the ball. Farrell converted with a great kick. Giving a 2 point game.
Cinti made a mistake in taking the ball out that would’ve been out on the full, giving Sale the line out throw. Then Simpson did kick the ball out on the full, sending things straight back inti the Saracens half. Sale had a 12 phase attack before Gonzalez gave away the penalty being offside. Ford kicked to the corner. Sale lost the line out ball and Theo Dan kicked the ball upfield, some way, Theo Dan the Hooker!
Sale won yet another scrum penalty, the 6th one. Sale had a 2 point lead and Ford, took the kick a strange choice with the 4th try still needed by Sale. The kick came off the posts and it looked like Sale were 1st to the ball but Saracens came up with it. Tom Weirdest gave away another penalty, I can’t understand the call for a kick from the commentators, Sale had the lead. Ford did kick to touch for this one, but the throw wasn’t straight and Saracens picked a scrum put in, strangely, because of course Sale won yet another penalty. A very strange choice! The final whistle blew and the final score was Sale Sharks 22 Saracens 20. Sale will go into the Christmas break at the top of the leagu. Sale were good for their win and deserved to take the points. ben Curry was awarded the Player of the Match accolade. (the cover image is just a Saracens away pic)
365 Sporting Days 