Sale second as Ford scores try in win over Sarries

Gallagher Premiership

Sale (22) 25

Ford 2 Pens: Ford 2 Refs: Ma’asi-White, Ford, Reed Cons:

Saracens (7) 7

As the Sharks defeated Saracens in a fiery match to move up to second in the Premiership, England fly-half George Ford scored his first try for Sale.

Within 90 seconds, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White gave the hosts the lead before Ford’s brilliant run between the posts.

Before Angus Hall responded for Saracens, who were trailing 22-7 at the break, Arron Reed ran the length of the pitch to score one of the season’s tries.

As Sale won the match, Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers, who both play on Saturday, were able to score a penalty in a more controlled second half.

Referee Christophe Ridley’s error prevented Raffi Quirke from scoring a certain fourth try when he blew up for a Sale knock-on, with replays revealing that Sarries flanker Nick Isiekwe had gotten the ball.

In the second minute, Sale took the lead thanks to Ford’s burst through before Reed, who set up Ma’asi-White to scuttle into the corner.

After Tom Curry reacted to a late challenge from England team-mate Maro Itoje, a big scuffle broke out immediately between the two players.

That established the physical and frantic half that Sale dominated throughout.

Ford was beginning to pull the strings with his brilliant performance against Sale last week at Harlequins. Saracens hardly touched the ball until Tom Willis’ spectacular carry in the eighth minute, when he bounced off challenges after challenges before eventually losing.

The England fly-half touched down between the posts for his first try since joining the Manchester club in 2022 as a result of a lightning quick break between Tom Roebuck and Ford.

Sarries’ first chance to score a penalty kick came at 35 meters from Sarries’ first opportunity to score.

Minutes later, Reed had the game’s memorable moment when he tore away the ball quickly in front of his own tryline.

He passed Nick Tompkins, rode Angus Hall’s challenge, passed Elliot Daly, and celebrated long before reaching the finish line, knowing that no one could match his blistering speed.

After being under pressure from the visitors, Hall scored Saracens’ first try in the right corner, coming home with a great 20-yard pass from Daly.

After a challenge at the start of the second half, Hall was taken off for a head injury assessment (HIA), and he did not make a full return to the field.

After the break, the hosts had a 2-0 lead, and Ford kicked between the posts to give the Sharks an 18-point lead. However, how costlyly wrong was the mistake of referee Ridley will turn out for the Sharks remains to be seen.

The unsighted referee’s failure to claim a deserved bonus point, which would have increased their lead to 49 points, was all that the Sharks could have done.

One positive aspect of Saracens’ forgettable night was the performance of England’s No. 8 Tom Willis, who received applause from both fans when he was replaced in the second half.

Sale are now in control of their fourth straight Premiership match and are on a run-in with momentum.

In two weeks, Saracens host bottom-place Newcastle Falcons, while they travel to Leicester.

Director of rugby for Sale Sharks, Alex Sanderson, stated:

We initially had physical and clinical issues, but we’ve since started making goals after the Six Nations.

“We have to win every game, but George Ford is like a coach on the field.” He can control the game, and his performance tonight shows that he can control it.

Because of their attacking and game-breaking prowess, “people have put other fly-halves ahead of him.” But I believe he showed tonight that he also has that in his game. What can’t he do?

Are George the only fly-halves in Britain and Ireland who can compete with him? Not in my opinion. He has a great deal of form and is bringing his team along with him, but I don’t know what will happen with Lyons’ selection.

Mark McCall, the director of rugby for the Saracens, said:

Sale are a formidable opponent, according to Sale.

We were 22-0 down, but that’s a mountain to climb when you don’t have that momentum and ball speed.

Tom Willis has definitely matured this year, and it takes some work for him to make the 100 runs against a team like Sale.

Replacements: McIlroy, McIntyre, John, Beaumont, D. Du Preez, Dugdale, Quirke, and O’Flaherty

Saracens: Daly, Hall, Tompkins, Hartley, Segum, Burke, Van Zyl, Carre, George, Clarey, Itoje, Tizard, Isiekwe, Earl, Willis

Replacements: Goode, Gonzalez, Mawi, Beaton, McFarland, Onyeama-Christie, Bracken, and Dan.