It's away day delight as Sharks bite Sarries

SALE ended their StoneX curse to reach the Premiership play-offs for a second straight season and deny Saracens a home semi-final courtesy of an almighty performance from their beefy back row.

-  BEN JAYCOCK

The visitors hadn't won away at Saracens since 2005 when the north Londoners played at Vicarage Road but kept their season alive with flair from their backline orchestrated by talismanic fly-half George Ford, combining with power up front which stunned the hosts into submission of a rare double by their northern foes.

An imposing Ben Curry, tackle-machine Sam Dugdale and the ferocious Jean-Luc du Preez were no match for an off colour Saracens, whose three-match win streak was diminished at a crucial time ahead of their trip to Franklin's Gardens in a fortnight's time.

Sale are celebrating a Hawaiian themed end of season party today but there's still life in their campaign as The Rec beckons for last year's finalists.

With Owen Farrell, Alex Lewington, both Vunipola brothers and Sean Maitland all moving on, their last ever match at the Stone X was spoilt thanks to a ruthless Sale.