Sale Sharks 19-85 Saracens - Gallagher PREM result as Sarries running riot, Noah Caluori scores his fifth try

Noah Caluori scored five tries against Sale Sharks for the second time this season in a record-breaking Saracens rout.

Mark McCall's men triumphed 19-85 in a stark reminder that they're not out of the playoff hunt yet, as Saracens closed the gap between themselves and fourth-placed Exeter Chiefs, who they play on the final day of the Gallagher PREM season, to 10 points.

Saracens were utterly clinical in a terrifying warning for the rest of the league, scoring 13 tries from 14 entries into Sale's 22, in a performance more reminiscent of the All Blacks facing a minnow in the World Cup group stage than the 2023 PREM final between these teams.

Rotimi Segun kickstarted the thrashing, breaking through two half-hearted Sharks tackles to score, beginning what would become a theme at the CorpAcq. Sale missed almost a third of their tackles against Saracens, and that was the cause of the second score too, as the outstanding Max Malins broke the line after fielding a kick and fed Caluori via Segun.

Rhys Carre crossed following a well-executed lineout move involving Caluori, who added the final score of the half following a 50m solo effort from Fergus Burke, who was outstanding as a playmaker but missed several kicks off the tee.

Sharks finally got on the scoreboard early in the second half when O'Flaherty surged through three tackles to touch down, but then conceded two walk-ins in the next four minutes from Bracken and Caluori, who intercepted a telegraphed Rob du Preez pass.

Handling errors were another major problem for Sale all afternoon in sharp contrast to Saracens' crisp handling, which was on full display when marvellous work from Burke set up Caluori for his fourth, and then the winger produced an audacious finish for his fifth, acrobatically touching down in the corner.

Max Malins got a deserved score in the final 20 minutes, while Nathan Michelow and Ben Earl piled further misery on Sale, who hit back through O'Flaherty and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, but couldn't claim the bonus point.

They still need to sure up their EPCR Champions Cup qualification for next season, but have little else to play for, and it showed, while Saracens put the rest of the Gallagher PREM on notice entering the final stretch of the season.

Saracens face Leicester and Bristol next, then have two games against teams outside the playoff hunt before a potentially decisive showdown against Exeter on the final day.

1. Northampton Saints 57 points (+120 points difference)

2. Bath, 56 (+191)

3. Leicester Tigers, 51 (+155)

4. Exeter Chiefs, 47 (+122)

5. Bristol Bears, 43 (+78)

6. Saracens, 38 (+150)

7. Sale Sharks, 22 (-95)

8. Gloucester, 16 (-174)

9. Harlequins, 15 (-191)

10. Newcastle Red Bulls, 7 (-356)

It was a truly remarkable finish by the teenager.

Sale are put out of their misery, they have been thoroughly thumped by Saracens who have shown their playoff ambitions aren't dead yet...

The prop is dragged over the line by his forward pack, who get one act of revenge for a chastening day. Because it's not a double-movement, the try stands and Sale are only one try away from the least deserved bonus point in Premier League history.

It's a record win for Saracens, but once again it's just clinical execution coupled with complete lifelessness from the opposition.

Malins makes a half-break - he's sparked so many scores today - and when he does then replacement Ben Earl is the only player in the vicinity, catching the offload and racing in. Saracens have only had 13 visits to the 22 and they've scored all of them.

Farrell nails the kick, if Sarries had kicked all of their conversions today then they'd be on 97 points.

It's a brace for comfortably Sale's best player today, unbelievably there's a chance Sale could get something from this game if they can score two more in the last 10 minutes while Sarries have nothing to play for.

If anyone deserved a try for Saracens then it was Malins who's played a key role in so many scores today. This time Angus Hall deserves all the credit though, chasing what looked like a lost cause kick in behind as Tom O'Flaherty was the only Shark back.

He attempted to clear as Hall drove him into the try area but dropped the ball instead, allowing Malins an easy finish.

Owen Farrell is on and kicks the conversion, he's not a bad closer to have is he?

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The Saracens onslaught doesn't stop. Malins powers through the first tackle and charges up to the line, from three it's just a matter of building the phases and replacement Nathan Michelow channelled his inner Tom Willis to touch down.

O'Flaherty was able to continue earlier, but Jos Gilmore's undiagnosed injury took a lot longer to stablilise. He was able to walk off the pitch but it's another blow for Sanderson, Sam Dugdale is back on, while Reuben Logan has joined the back row.

WHAT. A. FINISH. He acrobatically touched down more for show at the end of the first half but that was a try that only Caluori could finish.

Jacques Vermeulen looked to come across and push him into touch but Caluori looked like he was launched off a trampoline as he dives over the top and touched down right at the base of the flag.

I don't know what's worse than a nightmare afternoon, but this is turning into it for Sale as Tom O'Flaherty is treated for a potential head injury.

Noah Caluori scores his 16th try of the Gallagher PREM season - nine of them have come against Sale.

This time all the hard work was done by Burke though, he drifts right and bounces through a string of tackles before feeding the winger, he was unselfish for Bracken's try and is rewarded now.

Saracens break up the left and poke a kick through for Bracken to chase. He gets a kind bounce back towards the touchline but it looks like he couldn't get the ball down.

It goes from bad to worse for Sharks as Calouri intercepts a very flat pass from Rob du Preez and jogs in under the posts.

He didn't really need to do much either, he just stepped out into the line and Du Preez failed to adjust.

The fightback didn't last long! Sale are desperate for a massive hit in defence but they all bite in and allow Saracens to tiptoe up the right wing and score.

It's still fantastic handling by the visitors in a tight channel though, in stark contrast to Sale.

Sale are on the board! With the Sarries defence tied up on the left following that Opoku-Fordjour carry, Sale exploit the space on the other flank and get the ball to O'Flaherty on the wing.

He still has lots to do but produces a vintage finish, though the conversion flies wide.

Opoku-Fordjour sits down Caluori and Tom Roebuck avoids being shunted into touch to keep the move going.

Sale simply have to improve.