They are fond of using the phrase “Northern Rugby Matters” in this part of the world and Alex Sanderson and his Sale Sharks players made a compelling case for that strapline here. After half an hour a bumper home crowd at the Salford City Stadium had been subdued into silence by a masterful display from the league leaders.
However, what looked like a procession to the finish line – and a guaranteed home semi-final – for Saracens was, in the end, anything but. For all Sale’s disciplinary problems in recent weeks, being reduced to 13 men in each of their last two defeats, it was fitting that it was a yellow card for the opposition here which swung this thoroughly entertaining contest in their favour.
