England scare as George Ford injured in Sale's loss at Saracens

Alex Lozowski’s 22-point haul helped Saracens beat Sale 45-26 in their first home match of the new Gallagher Premiership season. Saracens were looking to build on a 35-26 triumph over Gloucester in their opening match of the campaign, but they got off to a difficult start at the StoneX Stadium.

The hosts were 3-0 down after just four minutes when England fly-half George Ford kicked a penalty from in front of the posts. The Sharks number 10 had a chance to increase the lead a minute later with another shot at goal but, on this occasion, his effort fell just short.

Ford’s afternoon took an unexpected turn in the seventh minute when he was forced to withdraw due to injury in an early blow for the visitors. Lozowski twisted the knife and got the hosts back on level terms with a successful penalty of his own.

However, Sale moved 10-3 ahead in the 21st minute when Gus Warr got on the end of a flowing Sharks move before crossing the whitewash to score. Elliot Daly kicked a long-range penalty to reduce the deficit as Sarries looked for an immediate response and it was 10-9 moments later when Lozowski slotted his second penalty of the afternoon.

Sale then lost flanker Sam Dugdale to a yellow card for a high tackle on Ben Earl in the closing stages of the half, and Lozowski kicked the resulting penalty to put the hosts ahead for the first time. But Sale hit back again and Robert du Preez kicked a penalty on the stroke of half-time to give his team a one-point advantage at the break.

The game continued to ebb and flow and Mark McCall’s side moved 15-13 ahead within minutes of the restart as Lozowski converted another penalty from in front of the posts. Another successful Lozowski strike extended Sarries’ lead to five points and Tobias Elliott then scored his side’s opening try in the 53rd minute to compound Sharks’ misery.

Lozowski’s conversion made it 25-13 but du Preez slotted his second penalty to reduce the deficit to nine points. Sale hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie set up a tense final 20 minutes when he placed the ball over the try line from the back of a driving maul.

Saracens responded with their second try of the match when England back Daly latched on to a grubber kick before powering over the whitewash to make it 30-21. The momentum was with the hosts, and after winning a penalty with a dominant showing at the scrum, they opted to kick for the corner rather than take the points.

The risk paid off as Jamie George powered over from the back of the driving maul to give his side a two-try cushion. Another Lozowski penalty made it 38-21 but Sharks thought they had the final say as Tom O’Flaherty crossed in the corner.

However, Dugdale was shown a second yellow after the clock had turned red before Daly crossed again to wrap up Saracens’ win.

An early blow for @SaleSharksRugby as George Ford limps off with an injury ?#GallagherPrem | #SARvSAL pic.twitter.com/moZkDLvfKl

— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) September 28, 2024