Sale celebrated Jason Robinson's international retirement by claiming a
maximum five-point haul at Saracens.
While England are lamenting the loss of one of the game's deadliest finishers,
Sale boss Phillipe Saint-Andre will be rubbing his hands with glee at the
potential benefit his skipper's decision will bring to Edgeley Park.
All eyes were on Robinson following Saturday night's announcement he was turning
his back on Twickenham to spend more time with his family, but attention soon
drifted to two other star performers in the Sharks' line-up.
Impressive Samoan centre Elvis Seveali'i bagged a brace of tries and powerful
French number eight Sebastien Chabal crossed once as Sale clinched their first
victory in 10 visits to Vicarage Road
England winger Mark Cueto also touched down, equalling the league record of
breaching the whitewash in eight successive matches as the Sharks addressed
their poor away form in fine style.
Three of their tries owed everything to some atrocious tackling from Saracens
but the home side could take heart from two stirring second-half fightbacks at
points when they looked dead and buried.
Kevin Sorrell, Kris Chesney, Adam Powell and Dan Scarbrough ran in tries for
Steve Diamond's side with the boot of Glen Jackson doing the rest.
Jackson missed just one shot at goal but the Kiwi fly-half was outshone by his
opposite number Charlie Hodgson who did not miss a single shot at goal in eight
attempts.
A Hodgson penalty began the scoring following a competitive opening 10 minutes
which saw both sides enjoy attacking flourishes.
Sale should have extended their lead in the 16th minute when swift hands and
an inside pass from Daniel Larrechea released Cueto who forced his way to within
two metres of the home line.
The Sharks recycled but French scrum-half Valentin Courrent made a hash of his
pass and Saracens were able to escape.
It proved a costly blunder as Diamond's side worked their way downfield with
Thomas Castaignede and Iain Fullarton prominent before making the crucial
breakthrough in the 21st minute.
Jackson's delayed pass to Sorrell was sweetly timed with the 28-year-old
centre hitting the line at pace and easily skipping around a disappointing
tackle from Larrechea. Jackson added the conversion.
Hodgson replied with a penalty and Sale had chances to snatch the lead with
Sebastien Chabal denied by a superb tackle from Dan Scarbrough and Larrechea
overlooking a simple pass to Cueto who had the line at his mercy.
Sale were penalised as Saracens attacked with Robinson warned over his side's
discipline by referee Chris White and Jackson made no mistake with the penalty.
Stung into action, the Sharks crossed through Seveali'i in the 35th minute
with the Samoan centre bursting through a lacklustre posse of three tacklers and
touching down under the posts.
It was a shocking score for Saracens to concede - possession came from a
swiftly-won line-out - and Hodgson rubbed salt into the wound by landing the
conversion and his third penalty.
Diamond had made three changes to his pack following last weekend's 25-24
defeat by Worcester with prop Nick Lloyd, Fullarton and Taine Randell coming in
but Saracens were struggling at the the scrum.
They were shoved backwards at an alarming rate in first-half injury time but
rescued the situation, breaking out with a neat show of hands from Randell and
Alex Sanderson.
Sale tightened their stranglehold on the game in the 49th minute when they fed
Chabal at the back of a line-out and the French number eight broke three tackles
before barging his way over.
Saracens' criminal defending was responsible for the next try three minute
later with Seveali'i allowed to run a mazy line to the whitewash without ever
being troubled.
Hodgson converted both tries before Saracens hit back with a robust effort
from substitute lock Kris Chesney with Jackson improving the score and slotting
a penalty.
The home side, cheered on by a noisy crowd, had their tails up now and further
reduced the deficit with substitute Adam Powell diving in at the right corner
after a sweeping move.
Inevitably Jackson added the extras but Hodgson settled Sale's nerves with a
penalty and then the visitors struck the killer blow, Cueto crossing after good
work from David Seymour.
Hodgson converted before Scarbrough reduced the deficit with a try in the
corner, but Saracens had left themselves with too much to do and their brave
fightback ended in failure.
E-mail Article 
Print-Friendly
Subscribe to RSS Feed 
Post to del.icio.us
Facebook