By Shaun Wren
Sale Sharks 10 – 15
Saracens
Charlie Hodgson kicked
all of Saracens’ 15 points as the London side temporarily moved top
of the Premiership table on Friday night.
It only took the former
England international five minutes to get on the score sheet. After
defending their line so well, Sale conceded a silly penalty to enable
Hodgson to give Sarries a three point lead. Danny Cipriani levelled
the score in the 15th minute after a mistake from Mako
Vunipola.
Soon after, Saracens
could have scored the first try of the game as they built pressure in
the Sale half. A great pass from Hodgson to outside centre Duncan
Taylor put him through space, created by David Strettle and Chris
Ashton, and just when Taylor looked certain to score, he off-loaded
to no-one and Sale were able to clear their lines.
Saracens would quickly
regret not taking the opportunity. In the 36th minute
Sale’s pack piled on the pressure after Michael Paterson had stolen
the ball and with Sarries conceding a line out, they had no chance
against an unstoppable Sharks’ driving maul. Hooker Marc Jones
scored the try and Cipriani converted.
10 – 3 to Sale.
Just before half-time
Hodgson had a chance to score from a penalty but his kick had neither
the distance nor the accuracy and the Sharks went into the break
seven points up.
Saracens started the
second half impressively, no doubt getting the hairdryer treatment
from Director of Rugby Mark McCall. But as the away side kept
attacking, Sale’s defence kept pushing them back and it looked like
Saracens would have to create something special to break the wall.
However, a mixture of
poor discipline and Hodgson’s boot were going to break Sharks’
hearts as within the space of 10 minutes, Sale went from a seven
point lead to being behind by two.
With five minutes to go
replacement fly half Nick Maclead had the chance to give the home
side the lead but his penalty went just wide. Then Hodgson
rubber-stamped the victory against his former club with his fifth
penalty and a minute left on the clock.
I really felt for the
Sale defence, as they were the stars of the match and to keep
Saracens quiet, Steve Diamond and defence coach Mike Forshaw must be
doing something right.
If they keep up putting
in these performances, I could really see the Sharks fighting for a
play-off place at the end of the season.