Saracens defeat Sale with Ben Earl tries and move closer to playoffs

Ben Earl touched down twice as Saracens moved a step closer to Premiership playoff qualification and boosted their chances of a home semi-final with an 18-12 win over Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium.

It was a brutal and tight encounter and there was just one point separating the teams at the interval, with Rob du Preez kicking two penalties for Sale and England international Earl responding for Sarries by going over for his first try just before the break.

The second half was also close but it was the visitors who controlled the territorial battle. Two Alex Lozowski penalties to Du Preez’s one gave them an 11-9 advantage before Earl’s second try of the night settled the contest. Although the Sharks garnered a losing bonus point late on, Sarries deservedly went away with the win.

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 of these teams like to play in their own half and as a result an attritional 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