Northampton begin title defence with win over Newcastle

Tries: Pater 3, Hendy, Freeman 3, Coles, Sleightholme Cons: F Smith 5, Belleau 2

Newcastle (14) 26

Tries: Wade 2, Jordan, Kok Cons: Connon, Henry 2

James Pater and Tommy Freeman ran in hat-tricks as Northampton Saints kicked off their title defence with a comfortable 59-26 win over new-look Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin's Gardens.

Just three months after securing a second Prem title against Exeter Chiefs at Allianz Stadium, Saints were dominant against a much-changed Red Bulls side who have welcomed 25 new players through the door this summer.

Three tries each for Pater and Freeman and one each for George Hendy, Alex Coles and Ollie Sleightholme delivered an emphatic scoreline as Saints, brilliantly conducted by fly-half Smith, ran in nine tries.

Yet for all that the scoreline delivered another defeat for Newcastle they still scored four tries and came away with a losing bonus point as they hope that, for the first time in five seasons, they may not be destined for bottom place in the Prem.

More to follow...

Northampton: Pater, Freeman, Hutchinson, Dingwall, Hendy, F Smith, McParland, Iyogun, Langdon, Kundiona, Coles, Prowse, Kemeny, Pollock, Chick

Replacements: R Smith, Fischetti, Neculai, Lockett, Taylor, Mitchell, Belleau, Sleightholme.

Newcastle: Obatoyinbo, Wade, Hearle, Harris, Kok, Connon, Elliott, Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills, Usher, Jordan, Hicks, Christie, Graham.

Replacements: Fletcher, West, Harper, Molina, Leatherbarrow, Cruz, Henry, Sotutu.