Saracens crowned Gallagher Premiership winners

Saracens downed Sale Sharks at Twickenham to win their 6th title and first since 2019.

The game was in the balance at the break with Sarries leading 20-13 after a penalty try and Max Malins 34th minute effort.

Sale came back well in the second-half, getting their noses in front for the first time in the final when Bevan Rodd drove over.

But ultimately it wasn’t to be for Alex Sanderson’s side who fell short due to tries from Elliot Daly and Ivan Van Zyl in the closing stages.

Mark McCall’s side showed their experience and know how to see the game out with 14 men, after a sin bin for Ben Earl late on to lift their first title since their relegation from the Premiership in 2020.

The side’s began the match in London by trading penalties with George Ford and Owen Farrell making the game six all on 17 minutes.

One of the biggest cheers of the day came in the 21st minute when Sale’s Tom Curry tackled a protestor who ran onto the pitch stopping the game.

Only a minute after the protestor events, Sarries were awarded a penalty try after Curry tackled Malins off the ball before he could dot down.

The winger had done excellently to get on the end of a loose ball and looked certain to dive on the ball to get the first try of the final, before Curry tackled him.

On top of the penalty try, Sale also lost Curry for the following ten minutes as he was yellow carded by Luke Pearce.

Even with just 14 men, Sale turned the screw just after the half hour mark, as Ford kicked a penalty to the corner before van der Merwe burrowed over the line.

Pearce awarded the Sale try following a TMO review, which showed the South African had clearly grounded the ball.

This meant the game was level after Ford’s successful conversion with ten minutes left of the first period, but Sale couldn’t keep out Sarries minutes later.

Malins who was earlier been denied a certain try, was put through a hole before he finished with six minutes remaining in the half.

This came after substitute Elliot Daly did brilliantly to kick a penalty within five metres of Sale’s line.

Saracens dominated the rest of the half, but even though they got to the edges easily on multiple occasions they couldn’t get past a resolute Sale defence, which made it into the break just seven points behind.

Sale got straight back into the match five minutes after the interval with a fortuitus Tom Roebuck try.

The winger pounced on lackadaisical play by Daly to poke the ball away from the Sarries’ man’s fingers before diving over.

Ford missed the resultant conversion meaning Sale were still trailing the five time champions by two points.

Daly thought he had made up for his error three minutes later when he dived over, but after a TMO review it was clear the substitute had put a foot in touch when he received the ball meaning the try was ruled out.

Sarries did however pick up another three points two minutes later to extend their lead once more.

In the 52nd minute another substitute mate an instant impact for Sale.

Bevan Rodd, who had only been on the field for a matter of minutes carried down the blindside of the Sarries defence, before powering his way over, to put Sale in the lead for the first time in the match, after Ford had converted the try.

On the hour mark Sale had two lineouts within five metres of Sarries’ line, but ultimately didn’t make them count, which Alex Sanderson may look back on as a moment in the match they could have took advantage of.

Ultimately Saracens defensive set led to their next try, as they retook the lead once again.

Sale tried to clear from their own 22, but it was charged down, before the London side turned the ball over leading to their third try.

Substitution Duncan Taylor fed Daly on the wing who beat a tiring Rob Du Preez for pace on the outside.

The major talking point in the match came in the 70th minute as Sarries got their fourth try, after a long TMO review.

Ivan Van Zyl appeared to have a clear route to the try line but Joe Carpenter came from nowhere and appeared to have held the ball up with a phenomenal last-ditch tackle.

Referee Pearce originally said the ball was held up, but after a lengthy TMO review he ended up awarding the try.

A major call, which is sure to be debated long into the night by fans and pundits across the land.

With six minutes left Saracens were reduced to 14 men, due to a high shot by Ben Earl on Jonny Hill in the breakdown.

Sale immediately went on the offensive, but Sarries in their own 22 defended brilliantly to steal the ball then kick a wonderful 50-22, which got the whole Saracens bench of its feet in celebration.

Sale tried to score from their own half in the remaining five minutes, but it was all in vain as Saracens held out to win their 6th title.

Saracens captain, Farrell won the man of the match award due to how he led his team and controlled the big moments.

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