Northampton Saints open title defence with 59-26 win over Newcastle

Northampton Saints 59-26 Newcastle Red Bulls, DPD Stadium at Franklin's Gardens

Northampton Saints began their Gallagher PREM title defence with a 59-26 win over Newcastle Red Bulls at DPD Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens on Friday night.

The champions led 31-14 at half-time and eventually ran in nine tries, with James Pater and Tommy Freeman both scoring hat-tricks. Newcastle were heavily punished during their yellow-card periods, but they kept fighting until the final play and earned a try bonus point through Werner Kok.

Pater Strikes Early For Saints

Northampton opened the scoring inside four minutes when a counterattack and a series of close-range carries created space on the short side for Pater to cross. Fin Smith added a fine touchline conversion.

Newcastle responded in the 11th minute. Kok broke down the left before the ball was worked across the field for Christian Wade to finish on the right, with Brett Connon converting to level the score.

The visitors were then reduced to 14 men when Harrison Obatoyinbo was shown a yellow card for a trip. Saints immediately made the extra man count, moving the ball wide for Pater to score his second in the right corner.

Saints Build First-Half Lead

Northampton kept the pressure on while Newcastle were a man down. George Hendy cut through from a lineout move on halfway and raced away for a converted try, before Freeman secured the bonus point with an unconverted finish down the left making it 24-7.

Newcastle regained some momentum after returning to 15 players and were held up over the line after a spell of direct carries. They eventually scored in the 36th minute when advantage was used well and the ball was moved wide for Wade to grab his second in the right corner. Zack Henry, on after Connon’s head knock, added the touchline conversion.

Saints had the final say of the half when Alex Coles collected an offload and scored with the last play. Smith converted to make it 31-14 at the break.

Freeman And Pater Complete Hat-Tricks

Newcastle’s task became harder after the restart when Pouri Rakete-Stones was sin-binned after a high-contact tackle. Northampton again punished the extra space, with Freeman scoring his second down the right in the 48th minute making it 38-14.

The Red Bulls hit back in the 57th minute when Kok’s run and Hoskins Sotutu’s support helped set up Cam Jordan for a close-range try. Henry converted, but Saints soon responded as Freeman completed his hat-trick making it 45-21.

Ollie Sleightholme then scored with his first touch before Pater completed his own hat-trick three minutes from time.

Kok Secures Newcastle Bonus Point

Newcastle refused to leave empty-handed. With the final play, Kok finished in the left corner after a lengthy TMO review, giving the Red Bulls their fourth try and a bonus point.

Team line up:

Northampton: Pater, Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Hendy, F Smith, McParland, Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona, Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pollock, Chick

Reserves: R Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, Lockett, Taylor, Mitchell, Belleau, Sleightholme.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo, Wade, Hearle, Harris, Kok, Connon, Elliott, Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills, Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie, Graham.

Reserves: Fletcher, West, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Cruz, Henry, Sotutu.