Aviva Premiership: Cipriani misses last-gasp conversion as Sale and Saracens draw
Last Updated: 27/02/16 6:09pm
Danny Cipriani missed a last-minute conversion that would have handed Sale a win as the Sharks drew 36-36 with Saracens.
Sale took a 17-0 lead at the AJ Bell through tries from Sam James, Johnny Leota and Tom Arscott, but Saracens came back brilliantly to be in front by the interval.
Tries from Jim Hamilton and two from Chris Wyles brought the visitors back in, while Charlie Hodgson and Ben Spencer added the conversions.
Hodgson, on his last appearance at the club where he started his career, also kicked a penalty before he was forced off the field with a head injury.
Cipriani kicked three penalties in the second period, but scores by Nick Tompkins and Mike Ellery moved the visitors 36-26 ahead.
TJ Ioane then crossed near the end to bring Sale within five after Cipriani missed the conversion, before Arscott scored near the death to level matters, but the England international was unable to hand his side the win from the tee.
Steve Diamond's side opened the scoring when James, Mike Haley and Will Addison all combined and Sale's outside centre finished off the move.
Moments later the Sharks had their second try. It was constructed as Cipriani's neat chip-kick bounced kindly for James, and the 21-year-old did well to find Leota on the right wing for the score.
When Arrcott scored in the 16th minute it looked like it could be an easy day for Diamond's troops, but Saracens fought back.
They soon halted Sale's momentum and went on the attack, setting up camp in the opposition 22 and touching down through lock Hamilton.
Hodgson kicked a penalty to further reduce the deficit before the visitors went over again as Tompkins went on an arching run before timing his pass perfectly for Wyles to scamper clear.
From 17-0 down, McCall's men had brought themselves back into contention and were on top in both possession and territory.
They put on enough pressure to crack the hosts' defence for a third time when Wyles crossed the whitewash in controversial fashion. The winger went down early and appeared to be in touch but, after consultation with the television match official, referee Tim Wigglesworth awarded the try and Saracens held a 22-17 advantage at half-time.
Having started so well, the Sharks were shell-shocked, but they managed to regain their composure at the start of the second period.
With the wind at their backs, the hosts could control field position and that allowed Cipriani to kick successive three-pointers to restore Sale's lead.
Despite a third Cipriani penalty, Saracens responded in what was proving to be a see-saw affair as a poor pass by Haley put Addison in trouble. Instead of taking the contact, the wing passed straight to Wyles, who drew the last defender and fed Tompkins for a simple score.
Sale were starting to make errors and another significant mistake led to a fifth Saracens try when Ellery intercepted and ran across the whitewash unopposed.
But the Sharks were not finished and, after Ioane reduced the arrears following a dominant drive, Arscott went over to make it 36-36.
Cipriani had the chance to win it but he was off target from the tee.
