Sale 10-24 Saracens: Defending champions see off spirited Sharks
Last Updated: 19/12/16 6:40am
Owen Farrell took centre-stage as Saracens claimed a record-equalling 13th straight European Champions Cup win which meant Denny Solomona suffered a losing debut for Sale.
Farrell scored a late try and kicked 14 points as the reigning European champions matched Munster's record of successive wins with a hard-fought 24-10 victory in Pool 3.
For the second match in succession, Sale had three players sin-binned against Saracens, but this was a vastly improved display from last week's 50-3 hammering at Allianz Park.
Solomona played 80 minutes on the right wing but could not find the whitewash as Saracens produced a typically clinical display to underline their class.
Nathan Earle scored a second try late on for Saracens before Sale lock Bryn Evans grabbed a last-gasp consolation for the hosts, who slipped to their sixth straight defeat.
Sale were significantly improved during the first half but Saracens established a slender 6-3 lead courtesy of two penalties from Farrell.
The hosts created the first opening in the eighth minute when Josh Charnley collected possession inside his own half and showed impressive pace to advance into the right channel. The former Wigan man then found full-back Mike Haley but he could not find Solomona lurking on the right touchline and the ball went into touch.
Farrell's first penalty put Saracens ahead after Sale were caught offside, and then midway through the first half Solomona was presented with a golden chance. Brad Barritt's wayward pass found Solomona on the edge of Sale's 22 but the league convert spilled the ball and the opportunity was lost.
Saracens began to probe but Sale's defence was impressive as they continually kept their visitors at bay.
After AJ MacGinty kicked a penalty to draw Sale level in the 28th minute, Saracens went close when Farrell orchestrated a fine counter-attack which saw Barritt's kick to the corner sail into touch.
Another penalty from Farrell restored the visitors' advantage before the break while Sale lost hooker Rob Webber to a yellow card four minutes after the restart.
Farrell then uncharacteristically missed two penalties in quick succession but he found his range for another three-pointer after Sale lock Evans was penalised for a deliberate knock-on.
After Solomona failed to take MacGinty's cross-field kick in his stride in the right corner, Sale then lost number TJ Ioane to a yellow card in the last 10 minutes. Farrell then went over late on from Will Skelton's pass and Earle touched down a grubber kick before Evans crashed over late on for Sale.
