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Farrell stars as Saracens edge Sale in English Premiership final thriller

football27 May 2023 16:54| © AFP
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Owen Farrell orchestrated Saracens' dramatic 35-25 win over Sale in a thrilling English Premiership final as the London club overcame environmental campaigners, injuries and determined opponents at a sun-drenched Twickenham on Saturday.

The England fly-half kicked 13 points and also shone with ball in hand during a match briefly interrupted by Just Stop Oil demonstrators.

The game was still in the balance until Saracens scored two tries in the final quarter, through Elliot Daly and Ivan van Zyl.

They then survived playing the last six minutes a man down after replacement prop Robin Hislop was yellow-carded.

Sale's first final since being crowned champions in 2006 took place against a backdrop of crisis for the English club game, with both Wasps and Worcester expelled from the Premiership after going into administration – and London Irish in danger of following suit.

The final had been billed as a contest between Farrell and Sale counterpart George Ford, who have 106 and 81 England caps respectively.

It was the second successive season where the childhood friends had faced off in the final, with Ford appearing for Leicester in their 15-12 win last term.

But Australia boss Eddie Jones, who coached the pair when in charge of England, had warned earlier this week that the forward packs would decide the contest.

FARRELL 'ON FORM'

"This was not redemption," Farrell, given a chance to shine by his pack, told BT Sport.

"We have moved on from last year...It's about getting the best out of ourselves as we felt that we closed up shop a bit in the final last year."

Sale supremo Alex Sanderson, a former Saracens back-row, paid tribute to man-of-the-match Farrell by saying: "He broke the kicking cycle up really well.

"Some of his cross-field spiral bombs gave them a break –- he attacked the line, he is on form isn't he? He guided his team to victory today."

Saracens led 6-3 after 14 minutes following two Farrell penalties and one from Ford.

Sarries lost hooker Jamie George to what appeared to be concussion in the 10th minute after he charged into England teammate Tom Curry and wing Sean Maitland also went off injured before halftime.

Play was briefly halted midway through the first half with the game level at 6-6 when two 'Just Stop Oil' protestors ran on to the field and sprinkled orange powder on the pitch before being removed by security staff.

Soon after the restart, Saracens went ahead through a penalty try, with Curry sin-binned for an off-the-ball tackle on wing Max Malins.

But Sale drew level when hooker Akker van der Merwe barrelled over from close range for a converted try.

Saracens, however, led 20-13 at halftime when Farrell's excellent pass released the onrushing Malins for an excellent try.

Sale, however, hit back early in the second half when Van der Merwe burst through and kicked to the corner.

Saracens replacement Daly failed to gather and his hesitation allowed Tom Roebuck to kick ahead and dive acrobatically on the ball for a try. Ford could not convert and Saracens led 20-18.

Another Farrell penalty edged Saracens into a five-point lead before northwest side Sale went ahead for the only time.

Replacement prop Bevan Rodd, not long on the field, forced his way over after a fine break by England centre Manu Tuilagi.

Ford converted and Sale were 25-23 up after 54 minutes.

Daly was then just off target with a long-range penalty but in the 67th minute as he outpaced Rob du Preez at the corner for a breakaway try.

Farrell missed the conversion from wide out but Saracens now led 28-25.

Following a lengthy review by the television match official, after referee Luke Pearce had initially ruled 'held-up', Saracens had another try when, with 10 minutes left, scrum-half Van Zyl went over despite a despairing last-ditch challenge by Joe Carpenter.

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