Tim Horan and Abdel Benazzi finished with a flourish as Saracens banished any
lingering fears of the drop by stunning Sale.
Former France captain Benazzi grabbed a vital second-half try and Australian
centre Horan landed a stunning long-range drop-goal to bring down the curtain on
their stays at Vicarage Road.
By the end Saracens were playing with the confidence that has eluded them for
long spells this season and their reward was to finish eighth in the table to
earn a place in the Zurich Wildcard competition and a two-legged tie against
Leeds Tykes.
However, the afternoon was a nightmare for the visitors, who watched their
chances of reaching the Zurich Premiership semi-final slip through their
fingers.
Jason Robinson scored two stunning individual tries in the final quarter, but
Sharks chances of prolonging their season were ended as they finished fourth in
the table after being leapfrogged by Northampton on the last day.
Double World Cup-winner Horan made critical interventions in the first half,
snuffing out one Sharks attack by bringing down Dean Schofield after the second
row had got through the first line of defenders and helping create Darragh
O'Mahony's score just before the interval.
That try opened up a 17-0 lead that made you wonder just why Saracens have
been scrambling around near the bottom of the table this season. They gave the
answer within moments, losing concentration at the restart and allowing
Schofield to bullock his way over on the right with Nick Walshe converting.
Andy Goode had opened the scoring for Saracens with a fourth-minute penalty
and both sides probed for openings with Robinson hauled down short of the line
by Saracens and Richard Haughton scaring Sharks with his pace on the counter.
Haughton needs only half a yard of space to surge outside an opponent and did
so in the 20th minute when Kyran Bracken and Goode gave him the room to beat
Steve Hanley to the line with Goode's conversion making it 10-0.
Sarries were under pressure, though, from a series of attacks up the middle
before breaking away for their second score in first-half injury-time from deep
inside their own territory. Horan broke over half-way, then Ben Johnston
controlled his difficult pass and drew Robinson before putting O'Mahoney under
the posts.
Schofield's score gave Wayne Shelford something to chew on over half-time as
news of Bath building themselves a big lead against Newcastle was reaching
Vicarage Road.
But any lingering fears of relegation were wiped out when Benazzi forced his
way over immediately after the kick-off after two driving mauls had been held up
on the line and Goode's third successful conversion made it 24-7.
For the rest of the third quarter Saracens enjoyed a purple patch that pinned
Sharks in their own 22 until replacement prop Joe Ross was driven over in the
58th minute for the converted try that secured the bonus point and guaranteed
their survival.
Robinson conjured up a brilliant jinking score of his own to beat a string of
defenders and go in under the posts with Walshe adding the extra two points, 15
minutes from time and followed it with another individual effort at the death.
Benazzi's replacement by Ben Russell brought a standing ovation from the
Watford crowd in the 66th minute and they were back on their feet in raptures
for Horan within moments.
Johnston took a quick throw-in on half-way, leaving the Australian plenty of
time to line up a drop-goal from 40 metres out and soak up the applause.
Teams
Saracens: Horan, Haughton, Johnson, Sorrell, O'Mahony, Goode,
Bracken, Flatman, Cairns, Storey, Benazzi, Yandell, Chesney,
Hill, Skirving.
Replacements: Ross, R. Russell, B. Russell, Roques, Williams,
Shanklin, Castaignede.
Tries: Haughton, O'Mahony, Benazzi, Ross.
Cons: Goode 4.
Pens: Goode.
Drop Goals: Horan.
Sale: Robinson, Cueto, Harris, Bond, Hanley, Baxendell, Walshe,
Yates, Titterell, Stewart, Schofield, Fullarton, Anglesea,
Pinkerton, C. Jones.
Replacements: Marais, Thorp, Davies, Lund, R. Jones, Elliott,
Wigglesworth.
Tries: Schofield, Robinson 2.
Cons: Walshe 2.
Att: 6,211
Ref: Ashley Rowden (RFU).
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