Sale's dirty dozen do job on Sarries

SALE moved up to second in the Premiership with victory over Saracens but were denied a bonus point which could be costly in the race to finish second and claim a home semi-final spot with just three games remaining.

- TOM WALKER

Director of rugby Steve Diamond said his players were annoyed they had failed to score a fourth try.

“I’ve had to remind them that we’ve not beaten Saracens many times in the last ten years,” he said.

“A win’s a win and, if somebody had offered me four points before the game, I would have taken it. Our destiny is in our own hands.

“Saracens couldn’t handle us in the first half but certainly handled us in the second half. Our first team is case hardened and our dirty dozen team, as I call them, is case hardened.”

Diamond made 11 changes to the team that beat Leicester last weekend for their sixth game in 27 days and stand-in captain Ben Curry led them superbly against the fallen champions, who suffered a seventh defeat of the season.

Matt Postlethwaite and Sarries wing Rotimi Segun traded tries before Sale stamped their authority with Valeri Morozov and Simon Hammersley scoring before Segun’s second try in injury time earned Sarries a bonus point.