Match Report: Newcastle Falcons 34 – 35 Northampton Saints

Youngsters Craig Wright and Will Glister both scored their first Gallagher Premiership tries as Northampton Saints claimed maximum points from their Good Friday clash with Newcastle Falcons at Kingston Park.

Phil Dowson’s side saw 14 changes from the starting line-up that defeated Castres last time out as hooker Wright and winger Glister who marked first league starts with scores, sandwiching first-half efforts from Luke Green and Fin Smith and Jamie Blamire’s opener for Newcastle. 

The hosts took the battle deep into stoppage time with four second-half tries that were crucially split by Tom James crossing for Saints – who hung on at the death to extend their winning run to three matches. 

FIRST HALF

Saints entered their return to domestic action buoyed by progression to the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals for a second successive season, but with sadness within the camp following the recent passing of brave young fan Charlie Hughes – with Saints players and staff wearing black arm bands in his memory. 

The game’s first of many eye-catching moments came from the boot of James, as the scrum-half delivered a booming 50:22 from inside his own 22 to give his side a glorious early attacking opportunity, only for the same player to see a pass intercepted by Cameron Neild that nearly led to a breakaway score.

Glister, who was promoted to the starting line-up from the bench for his Saints debut following James Ramm’s late withdrawal due to injury, dealt comfortably with multiple high balls aimed in his direction as the wind swirled around Kingston Park.

The game’s first score didn’t come from the skies, but from the heavy weapons on the ground as tighthead prop Murray McCallum burst through a gap and fed outside to hooker Blamire to finish, with Brett Connon adding the extras.

The visitors’ response was swift. After a period of strong pressure applied following James’ side-stepping meander into the 22, Charlie Savala teased the defence before feeding Wright to mark his first Premiership start with a maiden try in the competition. 

Rory Hutchinson briefly levelled the scores with the resulting conversion, only for Connon to land a 13th minute penalty to restore Falcons’ lead.

Twice Newcastle threatened a second try as firstly Callum Chick’s effort was chalked off for a double movement, then Elliot Obatoyinbo was bravely denied by Glister by the right corner flag. 

Next it was Saints’ turn to see celebrations replaced by frustrations as Wright rumbled over from a rolling maul, only for the TMO to intervene and rule it out for a double movement once more.

Saints lost Savala to injury, prompting Smith’s early introduction to proceedings, and before the break, Tom Pearson hobbled off with Juarno Augustus taking his place on the back row.

The momentum of the match firmly swung Northampton’s way with two tries in the space of as many minutes. The first came when Hutchinson teased the defence from a central position before feeding Smith to cross the line. 

Then, in first-half stoppage time, the bonus point was secured when Glister pounced on a spilt high hall to deftly fly hack ahead and pull in the bouncing ball to finish and open an 18-point half-time lead.

SECOND HALF

Newcastle flew out of the blocks three minutes after the restart as McCallum once more made inroads and Connor Doherty dived over close to the left corner flag.

The response once more was seemingly swift when Tom Litchfield touched down, only for the pass that created it being of the forward variety as Saints did not gain a scoreboard reward for a period of slick offloading play.

However, they weren’t to be denied with their next attacking foray as Smith darted through a gap and combined with Burger Odendaal to put James through on a lovely line to breeze over under the crossbar. 

Smith’s conversion widened the margin, only for Newcastle to keep the game alive entering the final quarter when Alex Hearle bundled over, with Connon converting. 

Newcastle threatened an almighty comeback as Stevenson reached over in the left corner then replacement Max Pepper scooped up a loose ball from distance to finish, with Connon’s conversion cutting a gap that was once 20 points, to just one.

Buoyed by a vocal home crowd, Falcons kept the ball for four minutes of stoppage time as they pulled Saints left and right, but the defence stood firm and eventually delivered a breakdown penalty that was kicked to touch to signal the end of a high-scoring encounter. 

LINE-UPS:

Falcons: 15 Obatoyinbo, 14 Hearle, 13 Doherty, 12 Clark, 11 Stevenson, 10 Connon, 9 Stuart; 1 Brocklebank, 2 Blamire, 3 McCallum, 4 Hawkins, 5 de Chaves, 6 Lockwood, 7 Neild, 8 Chick (c).
Replacements: 16 Fletcher, 17 Rewcastle, 18 Palframan, 19 Baker, 20 Leatherbarrow, 21 Pepper. 22 Arnold, 23 Spencer.

Saints: 15 Hutchinson, 14 Glister, 13 Odendaal (c), 12 Litchfield, 11 Seabrook, 10 Savala, 9 James; 1 West, 2 Wright, 3 Green, 4 Munga, 5 Lockett, 6 Scott-Young, 7 Pearson, 8 Mapu.
Replacements: 16 Walker, 17 Haffar, 18 Millar Mills, 19 Mayanavanua, 20 Augustus, 21 Mitchell, 22 Smith, 23 Witheat.