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MATCH REPORT Under-18s make it lucky 13 at the Gardens

Travis PerkinsSponsored by Travis Perkins

It also meant that their inaugural Premiership Rugby Academies League campaign ended in victory with what was a fourth try bonus in a row.


Newcastle had taken the an early lead through Sean Brown but after Sam Olver edged the hosts ahead with two crisply struck penalties it was one way traffic in black, green and gold.


Full back Alex Wootton took the fullest advantage, registering a hat-trick in a blistering six minute spell but his treble owed much to another of his senior Academy teammates


Tom Stephenson made both the second and third tries for Wooton; number two from a fantastic solo run and the third with a beautifully-timed pass that had Saints 27-5 up in the 24th minute.


The scoring barrage didn't end there either, Harry Mallinder creating and scoring try four shortly after Falcons hooker Ben Wilkinson saw yellow. The centre showed great skill before diving over for the bonus point and with Olver converting all four, the youngsters had quickly made a dent in the benchmark set by their senior charges.


They'd have to wait until eight minutes after the break to crack 40, however, Steve Arroyo-Hover spending 10 minutes in the bin for killing the ball before Harry Betts made it five, Olver again maximising the score.


Saints were by now camped out in the Falcons 22 and Jack Allcock powered over thanks to a relentless team effort. The break came from a dominant Saints scrum to form great back-line play and set the No. 8 up for the score.


He'd crash over again six minutes from the end, but not before the Falcons grabbed consolation with Brown's second of the evening on the end of a lovely floated pass.


The final say would fittingly go to the hosts though and with Olver also capping an impressive evening with his eighth success from nine, Allcock's powerful finish ensured the Under-18s final win was their most comprehensive of the campaign.


It was a good afternoon all round for the Saints Academy, which also provided four of the England Under-18 side that crushed Scotland in Darlington. Howard Packman (Moulton College), Jordan Onojaife (Stowe School), Josh Skelcey (Moulton College) and Josh Peters (Oundle School) were all involved in the 57-13 win.


TIMELINE

3mins SAINTS Pen Olver 3-0

9mins NEWC Try Brown 3-5

12mins SAINTS Pen Olver 6-5

18mins SAINTS Try Wootton Con Olver 13-5

20mins SAINTS Try Wootton Con Olver 20-5

24mins SAINTS Try Wootton Con Olver 27-5

29mins SAINTS Try Mallinder Con Olver 34-5

HALF-TIME SAINTS 34 NEWC 5

43mins SAINTS Try Betts Con Olver 41-5

54mins SAINTS Try Allcock 46-5

61mins NEWC Try Brown 46-10

64mins SAINTS Try Allcock Con Olver 53-10

FULL-TIME SAINTS 53 NEWC 10

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