Ben Earl helps the Saracens take a giant leap towards the play-offs

Ben Earl’s two tries were enough to help the Saracens to a 12-18 victory at the Sale Sharks on Friday night.

The 24-year-old put in a man of the match performance for the second consecutive week as the Sarries moved 16 points clear of the Sharks who sit in fifth position.

The top four teams will qualify for the end of season play-offs and with just four matches remaining for the Saracens they look firm favourites to challenge for the title.

Crucially Earl’s tries kept the pressure on the team just below them in the play-off positions and the Saracens moved nine points clear of Harlequins in third position who look set to jostle for second spot which guarantees a home fixture in the first play-off match.

Saracens’ Director of Rugby Mark McCall was full of praise for Earl after the match after his side made it four wins in their last five in the league.

He said:

“Ben’s just getting better and better and he’s just been outstanding for us all season.

“He had a great game today and has done for the past couple of weeks.”

Following a disappointing defeat to the Wasps in midweek, McCall felt his team did well to return to the basic principles of the sport.

“Our team were together and fought for each other out there. 

“That level of scrapping and fighting we needed and it was a good, hard-fought away win.

“I thought we were disjointed and a bit individual in our actions last week and we wanted to get that unity and togetherness back tonight in what we did. 

“I’m just really chuffed how we scrapped and fought our way through.

“You have to fight through the tough moments when you make errors and put yourself under pressure,” said McCall.

The Sarries will keep a keen eye out on the rest of the results over the weekend as the battle for the play-offs intensifies. 

Harlequins will look to close the gap on the Saracens once again when they face fellow play-off chasers London Irish on Sunday afternoon.

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