Penalty to Saracens at the scrum - Alex Lozowski dissects the posts.

Sale have thrown the kitchen sink at the champions, who may now feel that they have weathered the storm.

Just over 15 minutes for Sale to do something about this.

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Back underway at the Gardens and with the home side playing up towards the Bingo Hall.

Rain lashing, wind swirling.

On a weekend where it would be easy to sit in front of the TV and watch the Six Nations, these fans braving the elements at Allianz Park should be commended.

Sale continue to plug away as we reach the hour mark, winning a penalty at the scrum and slowly gaining territory.

Talk about shooting yourself in the foot!

Sale's Halani Aulika drives towards the line, but runs into team-mate Mark Jennings, who is offside.

Careless play from the side managed by Steve Diamond, who continues to serve his touchline ban and must be frustrated.

Image source, Rex Features

Exeter get the second half started, with Newcastle's Chris Harris with the first carry.

A succession of penalties and line-outs for the visitors, who are really building momentum.

Josh Beaumont trudges down the wing towards the try-line for Sale, but a combination of Chris Ashton and Mike Rhodes excellently force him into touch.

Fifty minutes played.

Not a great game at the Gardens with two sides short on confidence. Northampton have played the better of what rugby has been played and will feel much better with that score right on the stroke of the break.

It changes the mood in the Worcester dressing-room too, who were nearly heading into the tunnel right in the game. They have much more work to do now to try and get back in this. But they will have Saints' second-half collapse last week firmly in their minds.

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Alex Lozowski gets the second half started for the hosts at Allianz Park.

Maybe we should've expected this Saracens backlash today - after all, they've gone three Premiership games without a win, and the last time they went four matches without victory was in 2006.

They must complete the job though...

No sentiment for Phil Dowson playing against the club he'll be coaching next season. He may have caught Ken Pisi late here. Dowson was trying to charge down a kick and just left a hip in the way of Pisi and there's just a little contact with the Saints centre. Penalty to the home side.

Nothing comes of the penalty but Saints win another from the second line-out and Stephen Myler puts them 10 minutes from the Worcester line. 

But again Saints make nothing of it and it's just a three-point lead with four minutes until half-time.

With the last action of the first half, Joe Simmonds lands his third kick and first penalty of the day to give Exeter the lead for the first time.

Ten minutes to play in the first half and Northampton are trying to play a bit. Harry Mallinder with lovely hands feeds Ben Foden in a little space, Ken Pisi provides support on the outside but the final pass that may have put Saints in is loose and the ball goes forward.

But a loose Worcester kick sees the home side win the ball back and a high-tackle gives Stephen Myler the chance to go for goal from just to the left of the posts. He makes no mistake.

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That was the final play of the first half.

Saracens had the wind against them, but the force of their 15 men has been stronger.

Duncan Taylor and Chris Ashton have gone over for the home side, and Sale have a lot to do if they are to keep their run going.

Sale concede three more points, but it could've been worse.

The hosts are inches short of the try-line from the maul and Sharks give away a penalty, which Alex Lozowski successfully kicks.

The whistle goes as Rob Webber fails to roll away at the ruck and Saracens, as they so often do, punish their opponents with the resulting penalty.

Alex Lozowski is the kicker and, without seeming to do too much, the hosts are building quite an advantage as we approach half time.

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Worcester have the early lead but Northampton finally get their hands on the ball. Ken Pisi dabs them up inside the Worcester 22. Christian Day then steals the line-out to hand Saints a perfect attacking platform, the forwards drive up towards the line but Worcester hold out. 

And when Saints try to use the backs, Ken Pisi is turned over.