Sale Sharks move to top with 17-36 win over Saracens

Saracens 17-36 Sale Sharks, Allianz Park

Sale Sharks came up with a five-try performance as they defeated Saracens 17-36 in their Premiership Rugby Cup encounter at Allianz Park on Saturday.

The win meant Sale Sharks now are at the top of Pool 1 table with 10 points while Saracens are at third with five points.

Sale Sharks suffered a setback early in the game with James Phillips sin-binned in the fifth minute and Tom Whiteley with a converted try to take Saracens to a 7-0 lead.

The response from the visitors came in the 17th minute when Jean-Luc du Preez touched down and a conversion from Tom Curtis made the scoreline 7-7 before Whiteley's penalty goal put the hosts into a three point lead.

However, Steve Diamond's men took control of the game in the remainder of the first half with tries from Jake Cooper-Woolley and Tom Roebuck while Curtis kicked a conversion and a penalty to take Sale Sharks to a 10-22 lead heading into the break.

Alex Lewington's 57th minute try gave Saracens hope as the gap reduced to five points but further tries from Byron McGuigan and du Preez ensured Sale Sharks completed a 17-36 win.

“We’ve never won here, in any competition. It very rarely happens because they don’t lose often. It was a good competitive game and I think both teams got a lot out of it," Sale Sharks director of rugby Steve Diamond.

“Even though they have a lot of players at the World Cup and some injuries, the lads who put the shirt on for Saracens always deliver for them. It was a close game up until the last 20 minutes.

“I was pleased with a lot of the young lads. Tom Roebuck on the wing, Cam Redpath and Tom Curtis. These lads are only 18 or 19 so I’m delighted.

“We knew what we were going to get when we signed Dan du Preez. Him and his brother give us carrying momentum that we’ve not had for a long time at Sale".