Northampton Saints stormed their way into the PREM Rugby Cup semi-finals as they ran in seven tries in a 21-49 win at Newcastle Red Bulls.
Despite their hosts getting on the scoresheet first, Northampton had scored 42 unanswered points after an hour at Kingston Park – including a first Saints score for Charlie Ulcoq and a brace of tries for Toby Thame.
Luke Green, Tom James and George Hendy also crossed the whitewash before Newcastle got themselves back on the scoreboard and sandwiched Ollie Sleightholme’s solo stunner with two home scores from close-range.
FIRST HALF:
Saints defended an early attack from the home side, after Harrison Obatoyinbo rose highest from the kick-off and almost galloped in. But when the Red Bulls winger struck again – this time slicing his way through a gap in Saints’ line – his efforts paid off and it was Newcastle that began the scoring.
Northampton were ahead after 15 minutes though thanks to a quick brace of tries. First, a brilliant break from Tom Litchfield got them onto the front foot and into Red Bulls’ 22, before Ed Prowse’s carry allowed Green to dive around the corner and over. Then a jinking run from James saw the scrum-half over for Northampton’s second.
A pair of Belleau conversions made it 7-14 and that lead was stretched to two full scores just after. This time their speed at the breakdown earned Saints territory until they found themselves in Newcastle’s 22 and from there the forwards pushed through the phases, before back row Ulcoq muscled his way over from close range for his first score in Saints colours.
Neither side could make another attack stick before half-time though, with handling errors from both sides costing them. Saints had the best of the chances in the game’s 36th minute, when a series of strong carries saw West within inches.
But Newcastle managed to get over the ball there and earn themselves the penalty, and thus, the chance to clear their lines to see the scoreline remain 7-21 in Saints’ favour at the break.
SECOND HALF:
Saints broke the scoring deadlock just four minutes into the second half though. Moving the ball quickly left to right, Northampton worked their way into Red Bulls’ 22 before Thame punched a hole through their defence and barged his way over for the bonus-point score.
And a second score would come for the centre not long after. More slick Saints handling got them on the attack once again and, after the forwards got play close, it came out into the midfield for Thame to claim his brace just left of the posts.
Northampton’s sixth of the night saw England A duo Hendy and Archie McParland combine. A lovely tip pass put Hendy into a gap that the replacement fullback duly screamed through; from there, he found McParland inside him before regaining the ball and rounding the corner to score himself.
Belleau’s sixth conversion made it 7-42 and that was where the score would remain until the game’s 69th minute, when Newcastle got themselves back onto the scoreboard with a try for Richard Palframan from a driving maul.
Saints thought they’d finished with a flourish when a sprinting Sleightholme sliced through Red Bulls’ line, the winger turned on the speed and dummied his way past Newcastle’s final defenders to score Saints’ seventh.
But it was to be the home side who had the last word. Saints found themselves down to 13 men when repeated infringements saw first Sam Graham and then Archie Benson shown yellow cards. And the home side capitalised, sending Ollie Fletcher across in a driving maul with Brett Connon’s conversion taking the final score to 21-49.
Saints have just one pool-stage match to play in the PREM Rugby Cup, with Saracens the visitors to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens next Saturday (28 February, kick-off: 3.05pm).
LINE-UPS:
Newcastle: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Rhys Beeckmans, 12 Cameron Hutchison, 11 Harrison Obatoyinbo, 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott; 1 Micky Rewcastle, 2 George McGuigan (captain), 3 Murray McCallum, 4 Jamie Hodgson, 5 Oscar Usher, 6 Adam Scott, 7 Tom Christie, 8 Reuben Parsons.
Replacements: 16 Ollie Fletcher, 17 Adam Brocklebank, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Tim Cardall, 20 George Bolam, 21 Joe Davis, 22 Max Clark, 23 Ethan Grayson.
Saints: 15 James Martin, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Tom James; 1 Tom West, 2 Robbie Smith, 3 Luke Green, 4 Ed Prowse, 5 Chunya Munga (c), 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq, 8 Sam Graham.
Replacements: 16 Craig Wright, 17 Joe Cowell, 18 Cleopas Kundiona, 19 James Bennett, 20 Jack Lewis, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Freddie St John, 23 George Hendy.