Head coach Charlie Reed praised the maturity of his Saints Academy side as they overturned a first-half deficit against Yorkshire to secure a comprehensive victory.
Following the postponement of their Round 1 fixture at Sale Sharks, Saints belatedly got their Premiership Rugby U18 League season underway last weekend in a game hosted by Shelford RFC.
Despite tries in the first period from Edoardo Todaro, Harry Evans and and Siep Walta, it was the away side who led 17-19 at the interval.
However, after the break, Reed’s side clicked into gear scoring six tries to Yorkshire’s one to win 53-26.
“Naturally with the Under-18s and it being their first hit out as a group, we were a bit slow to hit the ground running,” said Reed. “Yorkshire, with a game already under their belt had a bit more of a feel for what the Academy league was like and we felt out way into the first half.
“We went from 17-19 down at half-time to winning the second half 36-7. It was a massive transition from the first half to the second half.”
A winning start to our @premrugby U18 League campaign on Saturday afternoon 🙌
— Saints Rugby Academy (@SaintsRugbyAcad) January 13, 2025
T: Todaro (4), Evans, Walta, Lewis, Line, Pater
C: Shields (4)
😇 53-26 🔵 pic.twitter.com/0MXYsO9sCB
Harry Evans, Jack Lewis, Dylan Line and James Pater all got over the line while Todaro added a second-half hattrick to finish the encounter with a quartet of tries.
“The main difference in the second half was the breakdown,” added Reed. “We were getting counter rucked off the ball. As an Academy we always want to play quickly and Yorkshire were really good at wearing us down at the breakdown. We spoke about that at half-time and it got tightened up and we played the way we wanted to.
“Fair play to the boys to have the maturity at that age to be able to transfer what we spoke about at half-time almost immediately onto the pitch, it shows the level-headedness that is within that Under-18 group.”
Charlie Reed
Focusing on four-try star Todaro, he added: “Edoardo is a very exciting talent. I have known him since he was 14 when I was over at Ipswich School and he was there. He is also one of the first players who fill find elements in this game that he needs to improve.
“He doesn’t rest on the fact that he has got really good potential, he sees himself as having good potential but wants to go on and do great things and push himself.”
On the same day, Saints Under-17s also got their season underway with a 62-28 victory. Charlie Tamani led the way with five tries, Elijah Jeyes bagged a brace and Ferdi Barnett Vincent, Will Hepher and Charlie Hammick also crossed the line.
“The Under-17s were fantastic,” said Reed. “They hit the ground running straight away, playing with great tempo and speed. A big shout out to our winger Charlie Tumani, who scored five tries. He was sensational.”
