Saracens stay unbeaten by thrashing Sale, Gloucester-Hartpury continue winning streak

Saracens continued their unbeaten start to the Premiership Women’s Rugby season with a comprehensive 69-3 victory over Sale Sharks on Saturday.

Alex Austerberry’s side have now won their opening six matches in the revamped top division of women’s rugby, while Sale were condemned to a fourth defeat of the season.

Akina Gondwe opened the scoring on 14 minutes before Paige Farries followed her over five minutes later as the visitors threatened to open the floodgates, but that was not before Victoria Irwin kicked over the hosts’ only points of the afternoon with an 18th-minute penalty.

Marlie Packer dotted down a brace within 1src minutes – the second on the stroke of half-time – before Poppy Cleall added another score inside the first minute of the second period.

Jessica Breach and Leanne Infante added quick-fire tries within two minutes of each other to compound Sharks’ misery.

Farries had her second just after the hour and McKinley Hunt followed her in three minutes later.

Farries, the Canadian winger, had her hat-trick not long after, and her compatriot Sophie de Goede, who had kicked so