Saracens boss Brendan Venter was delighted after his side bounced back from their opening round defeat at the hands of Northampton to notch their first win of the Aviva Premiership campaign against Sale at Vicarage Road.

Last season's beaten finalists claimed a deserved 28-13 victory over the Sharks thanks to tries from hooker Schalk Brits, prop Deon Carstens and winger David Strettle along with 13 points from the boot of scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth. Sale went into the break on level terms after a try from David Seymour try and a conversion and two penalties from Nick MacLeod but failed to trouble the hosts after the break..

"At Twickenham last week, we found out the hard way that you have to produce your very best every week to be successful," said Venter. "Had we managed to win that despite playing poorly, we'd have thought we are better than we are. So I'm very pleased that all the boys gave everything in the heat and came away with a solid victory."

The South African reserved special praise for wingers Noah Cato and Strettle.

"That was Noah Cato's best 40 minutes for the club," he added. "He was always going to play 40 minutes and then make way for David Strettle who showed again that he has brilliant feet, can catch high balls and finish superbly.

"Sometimes such talented players blow hot and cold, but he gave us a great 40 minutes, chased everything and scored a fine try. But then you get guys like Jacques Burger who continues to amaze us week after week with his contributions. He gets up from every hit and just gets on with the game.

"We have some great back-row guys now but it's the way the game is going, you must have a squad you can rotate so you get away from the fact that there is too much rugby, and you won't win anything with a first XV and some support players."

Sale boss Mike Brewer lamented his side's indiscipline. "We came down to play and to attack Sarries, but we did not get enough ball. Our discipline was poor. It's a key thing and it was not good enough. We conceded 20 penalties and you won't beat anyone with that on your back.

"Last week, compared with Sale's discipline last season, we were a lot better. But today we just handed them a shoal of penalties. They did nothing we did not expect, but hand a side of their quality a penalty every four minutes and you won't get anywhere.

"We have lots to work on. I was pleased with some areas, not least Paul Williams' great tackle to stop Strettle scoring."