Northampton storm to opening win as duo’s hat-tricks sink Newcastle

Tommy Freeman and James Pater scored hat-tricks as Northampton, the reigning Prem champions, took advantage of a favourable opening fixture to record a convincing victory over last season’s bottom club.

Since the end of last season, Red Bulls have recruited extensively and they did show signs of improvement but it was a tough ask against a side intent on making a statement of their intention to fiercely defend their title.

Tries from George Hendy, Alex Coles and Ollie Sleightholme took Saints’ tally to nine with Fin Smith adding five conversions and Anthony Belleau two.

Christian Wade scored two tries for the visitors to take his Premiership tally to 95 – just six behind the record holder Chris Ashton. Cam Jordan and Werner Kok were the other try-scorers with two conversions coming from Zack Henry and one from Brett Connon.

It took Saints just four minutes to take the lead with a stunning move. Inside their own 22, they took a short penalty for Hendy to make significant ground down the left flank and when the ball was recycled, slick hands created the try for Pater.

The visitors’ response was impressive with Kok brushing aside attempted tackles from Pater and Smith to set up an attacking platform from where a long pass from James Elliott provided Wade with a walk-in.

Red Bulls suffered a blow when their full-back, Harrison Obatoyinbo, was yellow-carded for an attempted trip on Hendy and Northampton immediately made then pay when Pater raced over for his second.

Obatoyinbo’s absence proved costly as Saints scored two more tries in his absence, with wings Hendy and Freeman both getting on the scoresheet as the hosts collected their bonus point after only 24 minutes.

Obatoyinbo returned but his side’s woes continued when Connon departed with a head injury and failed an HIA, but they showed spirit to keep in contention and were rewarded with a second try from Wade.

However, on the stroke of half-time, a break from Fraser Dingwall sent Coles in under the posts with Smith’s conversion giving Northampton a 31-14 interval lead.

Three minutes after the restart, visiting prop Pouri Rakete-Stones was sin-binned for a high tackle and again it proved costly as Freeman out-flanked the cover for his second.

That proved to be the only score in Rakete-Stones’ absence before Saints replaced five players in one swoop, with England scrum-half Alex Mitchell being the most notable introduction.

It did not immediately pay dividends as Newcastle reduced the arrears with a close-range try from Jordan, but Freeman completed his hat-trick to put the game beyond reach.

With seven minutes remaining, Sleightholme was introduced and with his first touch, he seized on a stray pass to race away and take his side’s total past 50 before Pater completed his hat-trick.

With the last play of the match, Kok forced his way over to secure a four-try bonus point for the battling Bulls.