James Pater and Tommy Freeman each scored hat-tricks as Northampton Saints opened their Premiership title defence with a 59-26 victory over a heavily reshaped Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin’s Gardens.
Northampton, who claimed their second Premiership crown just three months ago against Exeter Chiefs, imposed their strength early, with Pater crossing twice inside the opening 15 minutes. George Hendy, Freeman, and Alex Coles also scored in a first half dominated by Saints. Fly-half Fin Smith orchestrated the attack with five conversions and a commanding presence throughout the match.
Newcastle responded with two tries from Christian Wade, both converted, including a length-of-the-field effort that briefly leveled the score early on. Despite this, the visitors suffered two yellow cards—Harrison Obatoyinbo for a trip and Pouri Rakete-Stones for a no-hand tackle under the posts—that disrupted their defensive rhythm and allowed Saints to pull clear in the second half.
Freeman added three more tries, two of them in the second half, while Ollie Sleightholme and Pater sealed the win with late scores. Cam Jordan, Newcastle’s summer signing from Gloucester, also crossed for his first try of the season. Werner Kok’s late try ensured Newcastle left with a losing bonus point.
Henry Pollock, who recently signed a £400,000 contract extension, stood out with a performance that matched his new deal, combining power and pace to trouble the Newcastle defence. Smith’s control and precise kicking gave Northampton the platform to extend their lead, while Pater and Freeman’s finishing proved ruthless.
Saints captain Tommy Freeman spoke to BBC Radio Northampton after the win. “Good start and lots of points on the board which good to see but I think there is loads more in us which is what we said at half-time, but overall a good result,” he said. Freeman added that the set piece needed tightening up, and although the defence was caught a bit tight at times, credit was due to Newcastle for putting pressure on them.
Newcastle head coach Dan McFarland acknowledged the challenge posed by Northampton. “We put a lot of good stuff out there but we were tested today by a really, really good team,” he said on BBC Radio Newcastle. McFarland highlighted the impact of the yellow cards, which coincided with three tries for Saints. “Maybe we left a couple of tries out there but there is plenty in that that we will take away and see as a real positive.”
The Red Bulls’ squad included 25 new players this summer as they aim to improve on five consecutive seasons finishing bottom of the Premiership. Wade’s two tries and Jordan’s effort showed promise, but discipline issues and defensive lapses proved costly.
Northampton’s starting XV featured Pater, Freeman, George Hendy, Alex Coles, and Sleightholme among others, with Smith directing from fly-half. Newcastle’s lineup included Obatoyinbo, Wade, Jordan, and Kok, with Henry and Sotutu among the replacements.
Despite Newcastle’s best efforts, Northampton’s blend of clinical finishing and tactical control ensured they began the season with a statement win, keeping the pressure on other title contenders as the campaign gets underway.
According to BBC Sports.