Sarries see off Sharks
Saracens boosted their play-off bid and dented Sale's survival hopes with a battling victory at Edgeley Park.
Last Updated: 09/04/10 10:22pm
Saracens boosted their play-off bid and dented Sale's survival hopes with a battling victory at Edgeley Park.
The visitors consolidated third place in the table, but defeat leaves Sale still in danger of relegation, third from bottom.
Dry conditions and a firm pitch in Stockport encouraged running-rugby and Sisa Koyamaibole crossed for Sale after 10 minutes, but Chris Wyles struck back on 22, before Charlie Hodgson's boot established a 16-13 half-time advantage for the hosts.
Saracens dominated the second period, deservedly going in front through full-back Alex Goode's try on 49 minutes, but initially could not put the game to bed.
However, centre Brad Barritt's try five minutes from time made the points safe.
Hougaard kicked Sarries ahead with an early penalty and the visitors then put several phases together and the fly-half doubled their lead with another straightforward kick.
Sale centre Lee Thomas was wide with a penalty from his own half, but flanker Koyamaibole made amends a minute later when he spotted a gap to burrow over from close range on the right. Hodgson slotted the conversion to put the Sharks in front.
Hougaard then shanked a drop-goal attempt and pushed a central penalty to the left of the posts.
However, just as Sale had after Jones' miss, Saracens immediately crossed when Wyles broke two tackles on the left wing to touch down in the corner. Hougaard slotted a tricky touchline conversion, but it was his last contribution as he was replaced by Glen Jackson.
Hodgson's penalty soon narrowed the gap, before Marshall's dangerous dart into Sale's 22 came to nothing.
Hodgson was again on target moments later to level the score and he soon restored the hosts' lead with a neat drop-goal.
It could have been better for Sale, but Jones missed with another penalty from beyond halfway and Hodgson put a much easier kick wide on the stroke of half-time.
On target
The fly-half was back on target five minutes into the second half and Goode, handed the kicking duties ahead of Jackson, missed an opportunity to halve the deficit when he struck the right post.
The sequence of a missed penalty followed by a try followed for a third time when Saracens advanced down the right and Goode went in under the posts, then converted his own try to edge his side in front.
The visitors pressed again and went further clear via a simple Goode penalty. He was later narrowly wide with a long-range effort from out on the right.
Sarries continued to dominate, but could not turn pressure into points as Jackson's 35-metre drop-goal struck the upright.
And Barritt made the game safe when he finished off substitute Jacques Burger's break down the right, Goode again converting.
Sale desperately searched for a losing bonus point late on, but but ultimately failed to force another score. How crucial that proves in what promises to be a tense finale at both ends of the table remains to be seen.
