Sale Sharks 3-13 Saracens
Premiership’s faltering form in Europe could spell trouble for England | Robert Kitson
Saracens moved to the top of the Aviva Premiership table following a 13-3 triumph over Sale Sharks at the AJ Bell Stadium. Saracens controlled the majority of the first half and moved 10-3 ahead thanks to Liam Williams’ converted try and Ben Spencer’s penalty. Faf de Klerk provided the Sharks’ response but the hosts continued to struggle after the interval. Although the home side created a few opportunities, Saracens were the better team and sealed the win through Spencer, who kicked the only points of the second 40 minutes. Mark McCall’s men have enjoyed a fine run of form and went ahead when good hands opened the space and the Wales international Williams cut inside and scampered across the whitewash. De Klerk’s penalty reduced the gap before Rob Webber and Williams were shown the yellow card after a scuffle that followed the initial infringement.
Spencer then kicked another two penalties to calm Saracen nerves.
Newcastle 29-12 Bath
Newcastle completed a Premiership double over Bath for the second season running with a 29-12 victory at Kingston Park. The Falcons, who gained a 33-32 win at the Recreation Ground earlier in the season, bounced back from defeat at Saracens by racking up four tries in a bonus-point victory. Josh Matavesi began it all, sidestepping through and sending in Sinoti Sinoti. Toby Flood converted and Newcastle went further ahead on 15 minutes when Ben Tapuai missed a straightforward tackle on Flood who converted his own effort. Bath could not stop giving away penalties and one of them led to a yellow card for Aled Brew. The subsequent penalty led to a try for Kyle Cooper when Newcastle put it into the corner and drove the lineout to make it 21-0 at the break. A Cooper Vuna try and a Freddie Burns conversion gave Bath hope but Vereniki Goneva latched on to Nili Latu’s looped pass to gallop in from 30 metres to end the contest. Flood added another penalty and Bath’s only reply was a late try from Anthony Perenise.