Match Report: Saracens 34-49 Northampton Saints

Northampton Saints kicked off their PREM Rugby Cup campaign in style as they scored seven tries to defeat Saracens 34-49 at the StoneX Stadium.

Entering the competition in Round 2, Saints wasted no time scoring their season’s first try as captain Callum Chick powered over. The Northampton skipper would add two more for a first-half hat-trick, with JJ Van Der Mescht also scoring on his debut. 

Saracens scored three of their own to stay in it at the break and though the hosts pulled back ahead after the turnaround, Saints went on to add three more scores as Craig Wright scrambled over and James Ramm claimed a brace to seal a opening day win. 

FIRST-HALF:

Saints wasted no time getting on the scoresheet early doors; when scrum dominance earned them a penalty in the game’s second minute, captain Chick opted for an attacking lineout in the corner. Northampton’s maul got going from there and it was only a matter of time before Chick went himself and dotted down the opener. 

Belleau’s conversion was soon matched by a penalty from Saracens’ Louis Johnson and the home team pushed ahead soon after that as a looping Johnson pass found a waiting Rotimi Segun out on the left. 

Johnson’s conversion made it 10-7 and the lead would soon stretch to ten points when a series of penalties earned Saracens a period of territory in Saints’ 22. The hosts remained patient and eventually a gap opened up for returning Max Malins to snipe over.

Saints closed the gap to just one point on the 20-minute mark, as Van Der Mescht muscled over off the back of an attacking Saints’ lineout for his debut score, with Belleau dutifully adding the conversion. 

After half an hour Saints were over for their third and it was another for the captain as Chick scrambled over after a period of pressure close to Saracens’ tryline. 

George Hendy and Edoardo Todaro teamed up down the left wing to get Saints within range for their next score, and it was Chick again who would spin out of contact from close range to wrap up his first-half hat-trick. 

The home side had the last word of the half though as a bouncing ball from the restart landed in Segun’s hands and the winger wasted no time stepping his way to the tryline for his second.

SECOND HALF:

Saracens clawed themselves back in front after the turnaround, despite more pressure from Saints. It was Andy Onyeama-Christie who intercepted a stray Saints pass before he found winger Jack Bracken on his shoulder for the score.

Johnson’s conversion put Saracens one point ahead but the lead was shortlived as Wright tapped a penalty on the five metre line and muscled his way over solo for Saints’ fifth. 

Another successful Belleau conversion made it 29-35 but Saracens closed the gap to one point again just moments later when Bracken intercepted and ran the length for his second.

Saints claimed a sixth after an hour, with Archie McParland popping the ball up off the back of a scrum to a waiting Ramm on his shoulder. Ramm still had work to do but barged his way through Saracens’ last line of defence and over the tryline. 

And Saints would finish with a flourish as Belleau found Ramm with a beautifully weighted looping pass for the winger’s second out on the right. 

A yellow card for Saracens’ Tietie Tuimauga two minutes from time proved to be the end of any home side response and with the clock in the red it was a turnover from fly-half Belleau that sealed the bonus point victory for Saints. 

Northampton head back to cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens next weekend to get their Gallagher PREM campaign underway, when Exeter Chiefs head to town on Sunday 28 September (kick-off: 1pm). 

LINE-UPS:

Saracens: 15 Malins (cc), 14 Bracken, 13 Spink, 12 Hutchison, 11 Segun, 10 Johnson, 9 Bracken; 1 Carre, 2 Dan, 3 Street, 4 Isiekwe, 5 Sodeke, 6 Wilson, 7 Onyeama-Christie (cc), 8 Michelow.
Replacements: 16 Clarke, 17 O’Driscoll, 18 Tuimauga, 19 Sylvester, 20 West, 21 Simpson, 22 Davidson, 23 Jackson.

Saints: 15 Hendy, 14 Ramm, 13 Litchfield, 12 Thame, 11 Todaro, 10 Belleau, 9 McParland; 1 Iyogun, 2 Wright, 3 Davison, 4 Prowse, 5 Van Der Mescht, 6 Scott-Young, 7 Pearson, 8 Chick (c). 
Replacements: 16 Walker, 17 Fischetti, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Brown, 20 Graham, 21 Weimann, 22 Martin, 23 Caqusau.