Sale 34 Saracens 26: Cueto edge hands victory to Sale

Sale's director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre could not conceal his disappointment despite seeing his side scrape to victory against Saracens at Edgeley Park last night.

"We looked shaky in defence and we need to be much better. We did not close the game out," said the Frenchman.

His opposite number at Saracens, Alan Gaffney, admitted ill-discipline was his side's downfall. "We gave away too many penalties - the penalty count in the first half was 11-3 - and we had no ball."

Before the match, the focus of attention was Andy Farrell. Although he played alongside Jason Robinson for Wigan almost 300 times he has never played against him. That scenario never materialised as Farrell remained on the bench.

For 20 minutes Saracens hounded Sale, making them scrap for everything. When Ben Johnston received a yellow card for an offence at a ruck, it should have been the signal for Sale to take advantage. But, instead, it was Saracens' Glen Jackson whoslotted his third penalty to make it 9-9.

A Sale breakout by the winger Mark Cueto led to a try from the Welsh international centre Mark Taylor which Hodgson duly converted. Hodgson then slotted his fourth penalty to make it 19-9 at half-time.

Just after the break Saracens came under the cosh. Matt Cairns was dispatched to the sin bin and then a series of line-outs was replaced by a scrum. The ball was worked to Cueto and, though he had two men outside him, he raced through the defence for a try which Hodgson converted.

Within three minutes Penney surprised himself and everyone else with a stunning try and then Johnston claimed one which Jackson converted. Stung by these reverses Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe then crashed over for a try.

At 31-21 there was still plenty to play for, especially with 17 minutes still to go. With a try by Jackson, who was limping badly and not kicking any goals, that made it 31-26. But another penalty by Hodgson restored Sale's advantage and that is how it stayed.

Scorers: Sale Tries Taylor, Cueto, Fernandez Lobbe; Conversions Hodgson (2); Penalties Hodgson (5). Saracens Tries Penney, Johnston, Jackson; Conversions Jackson; Penalties Jackson (3).

Sale: Robinson (capt); Cueto, Taylor, Bell, Foden; Hodgson, Martens (Wigglesworth, 32); Sheridan, Bruno, Turner (Evans, 56), Jones, Day (Chabal, 56), White, Lund (Tate, 73), Fernandez Lobbe.

Saracens: Scarborough; Penney, Sorrell, Johnston, Ratuvou; Jackson, Dickens; Yates, Cairns (Burns, 53), Visagie, Vyvyan; Raiwalui (capt, Ryder, 73), Chesney, Seymour (Gustard, 49), Russell (Broster, 49).

Referee: W Barnes (RFU).