Northampton Saints U18s kicked off 2026 with a massive 33-0 victory over East Midlands rivals Leicester Tigers in the PREM Rugby Next Gen Academy league.
A hat-trick from Will Hepher, as well as tries from Charlie Tamani and Jack Lewis, saw Saints grab an important bonus point, but it was an impressive defensive performance that put the cherry on the cake to deny Tigers from scoring a point on their home turf.
Reflecting on the result, assistant coach Reece Marshall said: “We’re just very proud of the boys.
“It was an unbelievable effort all round. It probably wasn’t the free-flowing game we would like, in terms of the amount of phases played, but in terms of our ability to go and win those collisions and dominate them physically, it was exceptional.”
FIRST HALF:
Saints struck almost immediately with a high spiral bomb catching the Tigers’ backfield unaware, allowing Saints to pounce, and Hepher swan dove under the posts for the opening score.
Tigers responded with multiple entries into the visitors’ 22, but excellent defence from the young Saints held them up twice.
They responded with sustained pressure back down in the Tigers' half, and eventually it was recent England U19 debutant, Tamani, who powered over in the corner.
Saints ended the first half with a second for Hepher following a lovely line break down the far touchline.
SECOND HALF:
Saints opened the scoring in the second half with Hepher finishing his hat-trick after a nice dart from the base by Caelin Chin, putting him in open space to run it under the sticks.
With the freezing conditions, play became tight with both sides spilling possession, and the game entered a set-piece battle.
But Saints would have the final word with Lewis crashing over from a pick and go for the final try to see out the game.
The young Saints are back on the road again next weekend as they make the trip away to Newcastle for Round 5 of the Next Gen Academy league.
Line-Ups:
Tiger U18:
15 Will Payton, 14 Nathaniel Robinson, 13 Ollie Myall (cc), 12 Lochie Glackin, 11 Christian Gordon-Astbury, 10 Oscar Talbot, 9 James Townsend, 1 Kajetan Lewandowski; 2 Alex Catcheside, 3 Seva Batikora, 4 Fin Charles, 5 Kwame Bekoe, 6 Dylan Chessum, 7 Mackinley Jones, 8 Henry Johnson (cc),
Replacements: 16 Oliver Robinson, 17 Thomas Court, 18 Joe Edmunds, 19 Josh Poyser, 20 Joe Henstock, 21 James Alcock, 22 Harrison Brooks, 23 Abdul Bah-bah
Saints U18:
15 Hardy Linnell, 14 William Howes, 13 Will Catley, 12 Ashton Cox, 11 Charlie Tamani, 10 Sonny Goode (c), 9 Jack Woods; 1 Aiden Reid, 2 Ferdi Barnett-Vincent, 3 Noah Buxton, 4 Rafferty Hewitt, 5 George Tonga’uiha, 6 Ronan Perkins, 7 Jack Lewis, 8 Will Hepher
Replacements: 16 Kingsley Gallimore, 17 Lucas Veevers, 19 Connor Wight, 20 Charlie Hammick, 21 Caelin Chin, 22 Fin Shields, 23 Elijah Jeyes
Tigers U17 12-56 Saints U17
Immediately following the PREM Next Gen league fixture was a friendly between Tigers and Saints U17 sides, which saw Saints take home a 56-12 victory courtesy of a brace from Fin Westley as well as tries from Harry Carter, Josh Miller, Tommy Karpanos, Charlie Utting, Harvey Fisher and Dylan Hooper.