Saracens rekindled their top-four ambitions after three straight defeats but made hard work of victory. It looked all too easy when they led 21-0 just before half-time, but Sale eventually stirred themselves and in the end Saracens were grateful to hear the final whistle.
Alan Gaffney, their director of rugby, was relieved to win but critical of some aspects. "We've got to learn to play a bit smarter and show a lot more discipline," he said. "If you look at the second half our indiscipline cost us."
Glen Jackson opened the scoring with a penalty before a handling error by Julien Laharrague gifted Ben Skirving a try. Jackson eased Saracens further ahead with two more penalties before the prop Cencus Johnston showed the skills of a wing by skirting three defenders before powering over. Jackson made it 21-0 with the conversion, but just before half-time Sale finally came into the game when Sébastien Chabal bullocked over from short range. Luke McAlister converted.
The Sharks began the second half in much more determined fashion and two penalties in as many minutes from McAlister reduced the deficit to eight points. Jackson then replied with one of his own to set up an intriguing final quarter.
A brilliant cover tackle by Richard Haughton denied McAlister a try and Saracens should have wrapped things up when Rodd Penney broke clear only to make a terrible mess of getting his pass away but with five minutes remaining Oriol Ripol touched down McAlister's clever grubber kick to the corner.
The fly-half converted to set up a tense finale. Saracens managed to hang on, although they will be annoyed at allowing Sale a bonus point which denied them fourth place. Sale's director of rugby, Philippe Saint-André, said: "One bonus point is better than nothing and we're still fourth in the league, but we have a huge game on Friday night at home against Gloucester which we need to win."
Saracens Haughton; Penney, Scarbrough, Powell, Ratuvou (Russell, 65); Jackson, De Kock; Lloyd, Kyriacou (Cairns, 68), Johnston, Jack, Vyvyan, Chesney (Gustard, 68), Barrell, Skirving.
Tries Skirving, Johnston. Con Jackson. Pens Jackson 4.
Sale Sharks Cueto (Cliff, 68); Laharrague (Mayor, 21), Bell, Seveali'l (Foden, 62), Ripol; McAlister, Martens; Faure, Bruno (Lawson, 53), Roberts (Sigley, 53), Jones, Schofield (Bonner-Evans, 65), J-M Fernández Lobbe, Lund, Chabal (Cox, 60).
Tries Chabal, Ripol. Cons McAlister 2. Pens McAlister 2.
Referee D Richards. Attendance 8,712.
