Saracens vs Sale Sharks LIVE: Result and reaction from Premiership Rugby final after protesters disrupt game
Saracens 35-25 Sale Sharks: Saracens win their sixth Premiership Rugby title as Sale fail to end a 17-year wait for the trophy
Saracens defied a spirited Sale Sharks, a mini injury crisis and climate activists to clinch the Gallagher Premiership title for a sixth time at Twickenham.
A 35-25 victory over the Sharks made amends for last season’s last-gasp defeat by Leicester at the same stage and delivers their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch, letting off orange smoke bombs before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd. Both were arrested and while orange patches were still evident on the pitch at the final whistle, the interruption failed to take the shine off an enthralling climax to the season.
Saracens threatened to pull clear before and after half-time but Sale stayed in the fight and then pounced in a dominant third quarter that saw tries by Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd seize the lead. But drawing on all the experience accumulated during 13 years of Premiership and European finals, Saracens showed their resolve to hit back through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.
Relive the action from the Premiership Rugby final as Saracens beat Sale:
SIN-BIN! Saracens 35-25 Sale, 73 mins
Well, could this be a turning point? Chance for Sale? Robin Hislop sent to the sin-bin for the rest of the game as he tries to clear out a ruck but makes contact with the head of a Sharks player. It’s only a glancing blow but enough for a yellow. Sale attacking ball as well.
Saracens 35-25 Sale, 73 mins
Celebrations from Sarries as they win a turnover penalty in their own half. They can eat some more clock now with the lineout and a couple of phases.
TRY! SARACENS 35-25 Sale (Van Zyl try, 71 mins)
Saracens look like they’ve killed this game off! From the lineout they go wide to the left, great work from Malins to fire a long pass to Daly. Next phase and Van Zyl goes for the line...
Carpenter is on the back of Van Zyl and looks to get an arm underneath the ball to hold it up over the line but it’s so, so close. Is the tip of the ball on the ground?
Long chat between TMO and referee Luke Pearce and it’s eventually given! Try for Saracens! Big fist pump from Van Zyl and could that be the winning score? Farrell adds the conversion and the gap is 10 points.
Saracens 28-25 Sale, 69 mins
Sam James on for Manu Tuilagi for Sale. Powerful Curry carry down the left as the defender is knocked backwards. Sarries steal the abll in contact though and clear their lines.
O’Flaherty’s clearance kick will give Saracens the ball in Sharks territory from the lineout.
TRY! SARACENS 28-25 Sale (Daly try, 67 mins)
Huge moment! That Isiekwe lineout steal allows Sarries to kick into the 22 and Joe Carpenter takes too long to kick clear, Duncan Taylor charges it down thanks to his brilliant work-rate.
The ball goes wide and Elliott Daly is over in the corner. Big for Sarries. Tough conversion for Farrell and his kick from the touchline is just wide of the left post.
Saracens 23-25 Sale, 66 mins
Good quick ball from Saracens but Reed and Ford come up with a massive tackle to drive them into touch. Sale lose the lineout though as Isiekwe gets up well.
Saracens 23-25 Sale, 64 mins
Saracens screaming for a penalty in the Sale 22 but Luke Pearce having none of it. Raffi Quirke able to box kick clear well. Sarries can’t take the lineout quickly so they’ll rebuild from halfway.
Into the last 15 minutes of this final
WATCH! Sale score twice in second half
Here are Sale’s second-half tries. Both crackers in different ways
Saracens 23-25 Sale, 61 mins
Saracens defend it well and hack clear towards halfway. Sale come again but they’re back outside the 22 rather than on the line. Great breakdown work from Rodd to consistently stop Sarries jackalling but eventually the move ends as Du Preez’s flicked pass goes into touch
Saracens 23-25 Sale, 59 mins
Sale dart for the line through Ashman but great defence by Itoje to hold him up over the line. Great last-ditch defence. Tuilagi’s hard carries causing problems as well though.
Come back for a penalty and Sale kick to the corner. Five-metre lineout.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments