Trusty Hodgson stuns Saracens

Charlie Hodgson struck deep into injury-time with a classic drop-goal to hand Sale a dramatic 18-15 victory and condemn Saracens to their second successive Guinness Premiership defeat.

The scores were tied at 15-15 when the discarded England fly-half collected the ball and calmly slotted over the posts to sent Edgeley Park into raptures.

Saracens totally dominated the opening 30 minutes and stormed into a 9-0 lead courtesy of Glen Jackson, who landed the first of his five penalties. However, they allowed Sale to hit back with four penalties of their own to lead 12-9 in the early stages of an incredibly tense second half.

The visitors will feel aggrieved at being denied what looked a perfectly legal score by Andy Saull in the 50th minute.

A try at that point in such a tight contest would have provided a huge platform for victory but referee Rob Debney decided the young forward had knocked on before grounding the ball and Sale survived before Hodgson had the final say.