Premiership: Ben Earl brace helps Saracens pick up streetwise win at Sale Sharks

Saracens claimed a priceless Premiership victory on the road at Sale Sharks as they won 18-12 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Friday.

Two tries from Ben Earl helped the league’s second-placed team to victory but a late penalty from Robert du Preez at least gave Sale a losing bonus point.

That last-minute shot at goal was Du Preez’s fourth successful penalty of the evening while for Saracens, Alex Goode struck one conversion and Alex Lozowski landed two penalties as the visitors came away with a streetwise Premiership triumph in Salford.

Between two gargantuan packs, it was always going to be a physical affair and both teams competed for gain line and set-piece supremacy in the opening quarter.

There was also a fierce aerial battle as the respective outfits searched for the territory which would put their opponents under pressure.

Neither are sides that like to play in their own half and as a result an attributional clash ensued, but it was one which the Sharks edged in the opening period.

Saracens gave away a string of needless penalties, while their usually adept handling let them down at times as the hosts thundered into contact.

Mark McCall’s men gave away two kickable penalties and Du Preez, who has not always been reliable off the tee this season, was on target both times to give Sale a 6-0 advantage.

Sarries had barely fired a shot but, when the Sharks began to infringe a few too many times, they began to gain a foothold.

Lozowski had successive opportunities to reduce the arrears off the tee but the centre was awry on both occasions.

When the visitors won their next penalty they duly went to the corner and it paid immediate dividends when Earl went over from close range.

Lozowski, however, once again missed the kick,