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Saracens kick-started their Guinness Premiership season with a crucial 24-20 win at home to Sale Sharks which keeps their play-off hopes alive.

First-half tries from Ben Skirving and the excellent Cencus Johnston put the Men in Black in control but a second-half rally from Sale ensured a jittery end for the hosts.

Director of rugby Alan Gaffney made some bold changes in an effort to end a damaging run of three consecutive defeats. He handed Don Barrell his Guinness Premier debut at openside flanker and also gave hooker Andy Kyriacou his first start in the league. Chris Jack, Cencus Johnston and Kameli Ratuvou all returned to the lineup after missing last weekend's London Irish defeat. Matt Cairns also made a long awaited comeback from the bench after three months out injured.

It was a memorable 193rd game for stalwart Kris Chesney after he equalled the Premiership appearance record.

The Men in Black had a scare after just three minutes when the visitors broke and Ripol almost found a way through until his foot went into touch. Luke McAlister wasted the opportunity to hand Sale the lead when his early penalty cracked off the post.

But it was plain sailing for Sarries after that escape and they went in front when fly-half Glen Jackson kicked over a penalty after 14 minutes.

The first try of the match came after 20 minutes and it was an absolute gift for Saracens. Julien Laharrague spilt a routine pass and Skirving took full advantage. The number eight picked up the ball and easily ran through to the left tryline to give them an 8-0 lead.

Jackson missed the conversion but had no trouble adding another penalty within three minutes. The 32-year-old calmly converted another penalty as Sarries extended the score.

After 36 minutes, the Men in Black stamped their authority on the match with their second try of the afternoon. Chesney set up Johnston and the man-mountain barged his way through four Sale players and over the line. Jackson's conversion made it 21-0 to the hosts.

But a sloppy end to the half saw the Sharks get points on the board when French international Sebastien Chabal bundled over. McAlister converted to give the visitors a glimmer of hope at 21-7 down at the break.

McAlister dispatched two penalties with ease within three second half minutes as Sale continued to fight their way back into the contest. But Sarries responded through a Jackson penalty which made it 24-13 with just under 20 minutes left.

Richard Haughton made a superb tackle to deny a dangerous run by McAlister as Sale threatened to break through.

But the Men in Black threw away an easy opening, when Rodd Penney burst through only to throw a forward pass, with Dan Scarbrough well placed to finish off the move.

And Sale forced a tense finale when Ripol touched down after a clever kick from McAlister with only four minutes left on the clock.

Saracens: Haughton, Penney, Scarbrough, Powell, Ratuvou, Jackson, De Kock; Lloyd, Kyriacou, Johnston, Jack, Vyvyan, Chesney, Barrell, Skirving.

Replacements: Visagie for Lloyd 46-58 min, Russell for Ratuvou 66 min, Cairns for Kyriacou 69 min, Gustard for Chesney 69 min.

Referee: Dean Richards Attendance: 8,712 Scoring sequence: 3-0/ 8-0/ 11-0/ 14-0/ 19-0/ 21-0/ 21-5/ 21-7/ HT/ 21-10/ 21-13/ 24-13/ 24-18/ 24-20

5:05pm Sunday 9th March 2008

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