Saracens 24-20 Sale

Johnson was named man of the match after an amazing 20-yard try

Saracens (21) 24
Tries:Skirving, Johnson
Pens: Jackson (4)
Cons: Jackson

Sale (7) 20
Tries: Chabal, Ripol
Pens: McAlister (2)
Cons: McAlister (2)

Saracens opened up a 21-0 lead and held on to end their three-match losing run and keep their play-off hopes alive.

Ben Skirving and Cencus Johnston scored first-half tries and Glen Jackson's five kicks took him to a league-leading 134 points for the season so far.

Massive Samoa prop Johnston was man of the match after an amazing 20-yard try, beating three tackles.

Sale replied with tries from Sebastien Chabal and Oriol Ripol, with Luke McAlister kicking eight points.

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Saracens coach Alan Gaffney on Cencus Johnston:

"Cencus potentially has the ability to be the best tighthead in the world.

"There's a number of areas where he has to improve. Scrummaging is one where he's worked very, very hard.

"He knows he has a long way to go, but he has the ability of doing things that very few in the world can.

"The try showed tremendous acceleration for a man of his size. The Premiership will bring out the best in him."

Sale director of rugby Philippe Saint-Andre:

"We did good things but we gave them two tries. That makes it difficult but we showed character.

"We came back with one bonus point - it's better than nothing. We have a big game on Friday at home to Gloucester, and we need to win."

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Saracens: Haughton, Penney, Scarbrough, Powell, Ratuvou, Jackson, de Kock, Lloyd, Kyriacou, Johnson, Jack, Vyvyan, Chesney, Barrell, Skirving.
Replacements: Cairns, Visagie, Ryder, Gustard, Rauluni, Russell, Thrower.

Sale: Cueto, Laharrague, Bell, Sevealai'i, Ripol, McAlister, Martens, Faure, Bruno, Roberts, C. Jones, Schofield, J. Fernandez Lobbe, Lund, Chabal.
Replacements: Lawson, Sigley, Cox, Bonner-Evans, Cliff, Mayor, Foden.

Referee: D Richards (RFU)