The longer England stay away from Charlie Hodgson, the happier Philippe Saint-Andre will be. For the second week running Hodgson struck the blow that kept Sale Sharks unbeaten in the Guinness Premiership, though last night, at a soggy Stockport, he could not have left it later. His dropped goal that snatched victory over Saracens was the last act of the match, in the eleventh minute of time added on.

On the Premiership’s opening weekend, the England fly half scored the try that kept Newcastle Falcons at arm’s length. Here he crowned the longest phase of play in which Sale retained possession in a game otherwise dominated by the boots of the goalkickers.

“We have had very honest discussions with Charlie and he has come back stronger [after being dropped from England’s elite player squad and the Saxons squad],” Saint-Andre, Sale’s director of rugby, said. “I’m pleased to have him in my squad, his focus is on Sale. If England come, it will be a bonus for him.” Saint-Andre was less pleased at the number of times the referee’s whistle interrupted two sides eager to play rugby, despite the heavy drizzle. Such interventions will continue as players and officials come to terms with the demands of the experimental law variations (“the breakdown is a lottery”, the Frenchman grumbled) and if Saracens were unfortunate to be denied the try that might have clinched a valuable away win, Sale’s response in the closing moments was forthright and efficient.

A year ago, this fixture produced seven tries and a four-point win for Sale. Here there were five penalty goals apiece before Hodgson, from 22 metres, clipped over the goal that split the teams. Who knows whether the departure of Neil de Kock just on the half-hour made a telling difference? The scrum half is so influential in everything Saracens do but a gashed head after an attempted tackle on Rory Lamont left him needing attention and he was replaced by Moses Rauluni.

At that stage, Saracens led by nine points and the Sale back division, which featured five internationals from three countries, had scarcely seen the ball. Saracens ignored the weather to produce a fast offloading game, certainty of handling and adventure from Glen Jackson, Richard Haughton and Kameli Ratuvou, and drew a series of penalties at the breakdown, all of which Jackson converted.

But Sale responded, initially through the sprightly Luke McAlister. Hodgson kicked two penalties and missed with a third that would have levelled matters just before the interval; after the break McAlister took over the goalkicking and two penalties pushed Sale in front before Jackson added his fourth.

But Saracens needed the converted try that just eluded them rather than another three points. After a sinuous run out of defence by Haughton, they established a midfield ruck from which Andy Saull picked a delightful line before being brought down by Richard Wigglesworth. He looked to have scored but Rob Debney, the referee, ruled a knock-on as Hugh Vyvyan plunged through and Saracens could not make any greater headway from two five-metre scrums.

The two New Zealanders, McAlister and Jackson, exchanged further penalties but the introduction for his debut of Kristian Ormsby, yet another New Zealander, gave Sale fresh legs. Both Hodgson and Jackson missed attempted dropped goals and Jackson a penalty from 50 metres but Ormsby’s run to within five metres established the position from which, after a series of rucks, Hodgson denied the visiting team a deserved two points.

Scorers: Sale Sharks:

Penalty goals: Hodgson 2 (32min, 36), McAlister 3 (42, 46, 60).

Dropped goal: Hodgson (80). Saracens: Penalty goals: Jackson 5 (9, 15, 24, 56, 63).

Scoring sequence (Sale Sharks first): 0-3, 0-6, 0-9, 3-9, 6-9 (half-time), 9-9, 12-9, 12-12, 15-12, 15-15, 18-15.

Sale Sharks: M Tait; R Lamont, L McAlister, C Bell, D Doherty; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth (rep: D Peel, 56); A Sheridan, S Bruno (rep: N Briggs, 56), E Roberts (rep: L Faure, 71), S Cox (rep: K Ormsby, 71), B Cockbain (rep: D Schofield, 63), C Jones, L Abraham, S Chabal.

Saracens: R Haughton (rep: C Wyles, 63); R Penney, K Sorrell, A Powell, K Ratuvou; G Jackson, N de Kock (rep: M Rauluni, 28); M Agüero, F Ongaro (rep: M Cairns, 64), C Johnston (rep: J Visagie, 56), S Borthwick, H Vyvyan, C Jack, A Saull, M Owen (rep: B Skirving, 63).

Referee: R Debney.

Attendance: 8,321.