Saracens vs Sale Sharks LIVE: Result and reaction from Premiership Rugby final after protesters disrupt game
Saracens 35-25 Sale Sharks: Saracens win their sixth Premiership Rugby title as Sale fail to end a 17-year wait for the trophy
Saracens defied a spirited Sale Sharks, a mini injury crisis and climate activists to clinch the Gallagher Premiership title for a sixth time at Twickenham.
A 35-25 victory over the Sharks made amends for last season’s last-gasp defeat by Leicester at the same stage and delivers their first silverware since being relegated for salary cap breaches in 2020.
Two Just Stop Oil protestors brought a halt to the game in the first half when they ran on to the pitch, letting off orange smoke bombs before being led away by stewards amid jeers from the crowd. Both were arrested and while orange patches were still evident on the pitch at the final whistle, the interruption failed to take the shine off an enthralling climax to the season.
Saracens threatened to pull clear before and after half-time but Sale stayed in the fight and then pounced in a dominant third quarter that saw tries by Tom Roebuck and Bevan Rodd seize the lead. But drawing on all the experience accumulated during 13 years of Premiership and European finals, Saracens showed their resolve to hit back through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.
Relive the action from the Premiership Rugby final as Saracens beat Sale:
Saracens 20-13 Sale latest
In terms of on-pitch rugby action, it was a really compelling first half. Can Sale fight back after the break?
Just Stop Oil protesters arrested for disrputing Premiership Rugby final
An update on the Just Stop Oil protest that briefly stopped the match in the first half. Arrests have been made.
An official statement from the RFU read: “Twickenham Stadium can confirm two people have been arrested and this is now a police matter.
“We would like to thank our stewarding team who acted decisively and swiftly.”
Just Stop Oil protesters interrupt Premiership Rugby final
Two Just Stop Oil protesters caused a brief interruption to the Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham after invading the pitch and releasing a batch of orange powder.
There were boos at Twickenham as the protesters entered the field of play and caused a delay of around two minutes as they released the power on the halfway line.
The powder left a mark on the Twickeham pitch but the final between Saracens and Sale quickly resumed after the protesters were dragged to the touchline.
Sale players Jono Ross and Tom Curry, the England international, assisted the stewards as the protesters were removed from the pitch.
Just Stop Oil protesters interrupt Premiership Rugby final
Sale players Jono Ross and Tom Curry assisted Twickenham stewards in removing the protesters from the pitch.
HALF-TIME! Saracens 20-13 Sale
Sarries try their luck again just before the break as they spread the ball wide but it breaks down and that’s half-time.
Phew! What a first half. A penalty try and a lovely Malins score have Saracens ahead, although Van der Merwe burrowed over for Sale. We also had protesters stopping the match briefly by throwing orange paint powder. All happening!
Saracens 20-13 Sale, 39 mins
Clever lineout from Sale, throw to the front, pop back to hooker Van der Merwe. He makes a few metres up the line then opts to kick. Hmmm, not sure that’s the right decision and he shanks it out of play. There’s a reason the front row don’t normally kick...
Elliott Daly then tries a chip down the line but it just finds touch.
Saracens 20-13 Sale, 38 mins
Sarries break forward again as the crowd get to their feet. Great hands and running lines. Brilliant work by Curry though to steal the ball at the breakdown. That’s huge from the flanker.
Owen Farrell then finds a brilliant nudge that bounces into touch a couple of metres from the Sale line. The crowd think it’s a 50:22 but he just took the ball back across so only a defensive lineout
TRY! SARACENS 20-13 Sale (Malins try, 33 mins)
That’s brilliant from Sarries! From an attacking lineout, they run a backs move and Goode dances around in midfield. They reset and Farrell waits until the very last second before popping to Max Malins who darts between two defenders, jinks past another and races over.
It’s sublime from Farrell, just brilliant playmaking. He adds the conversion for good measure and Sarries are back on top
WATCH - Just Stop Oil protesters disrupt Premiership final
If you’re interested, here’s the moment Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted the Premiership final with their orange paint powder, courtesy of Evening Standard rugby correspondent Nick Purewal
Saracens 13-13 Sale, 32 mins
Sale back up to a full complement of 15 men as Tom Curry’s sin-bin ends. No damage done for them in that time. They’ll be delighted.
TRY! Saracens 13-13 SALE (Van der Merwe try, 30 mins
Akker van der Merwe burrows towards the line and he thinks he’s got the ball down. Luke Pearce says no try on the field, thinking there was an arm underneath but we go to the TMO.
And it’s a try! Sale, still a man down with Curry in the bin, are right back in this. Picking and driving from close range pays off as Van der Merwe does the business.
Easy conversion for George Ford and we’re all level at 13-13.
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