Newcastle Red Bulls 21-49 Northampton Saints: Saints secure PREM Rugby Cup semi-final spot

Northampton were faultless throughout the match, and their quality was too much for Newcastle as their pursuit for PREM Cup glory continued.

Newcastle Red Bulls got the first try with Harrison Obatoyinbo's great break through midfield off a lineout, and the winger flew over to add five. Red Bulls' brilliant early pressure in Saints territory paid off in the first five minutes. Brett Connon's kick was good to add two.

Saints responded minutes later with a try of their own through forward Luke Green. It was off a pick and go from close range on the right-hand side. Northampton reacted well to going behind and camped inside the Red Bulls' 15 to score the try. Anthony Belleau’s conversion went straight through the uprights to level things up.

The visitors would have their second try and take the lead four minutes later. Scrum half Tom James went over from close range off the back of a ruck. Red Bulls surrendered their own territory after the visitors pegged them back, and with Northampton growing in confidence, Newcastle caved, and Belleau added the two points.

Charlie Ulcoq added to the Saints' advantage off a good lineout, after the assistant advised the ref to give the try with no TMO at Kingston Park. It was all Saints from when they went behind, and they continued to be too much for the Red Bulls and easily got their third try. Belleau’s conversion was good to extend the lead.

It was great work from Newcastle as it looked certain Northampton would get their fourth before the break, but the Red Bulls held their discipline on the try line, earning a penalty and putting it into touch.

Northampton got the bonus point try, minutes into the second half, after continuing where they left off from the first period, with Toby Thame flying over to extend their tally. Belleau's kick went straight through the posts to tack on to the Saints' lead.

Thame got his second in seven minutes with lovely offloading down the left-hand side, and Northampton got their fifth. The visitors continued to attack with quality, leaving Newcastle unable to land a glove on them. Belleau’s conversion was good for two.

Newcastle looked bound to get one back on the hour mark when Max Clark galloped through off a line break, but his offload to Tom Christie was poor, hitting the deck, summing up the Red Bulls' night.

Northampton were in again, breaking with speed and great ball movement from George Hendy and Archie McParland, carving through the Red Bulls with Hendy going over to put their points tally above 40. Belleau continued his perfect record from the tee, adding another two.

Newcastle would get their second try from Richard Palframan with just over ten minutes to go which was met by a roar around Kingston Park after having little to nothing to shout about throughout the match. Palframan showed his strength by bulldozing his way over from a pick and go to add five. Connon’s kick was good to add two.

England winger Ollie Sleighthome wrapped it up with a sensational solo try from distance, showing his excellent speed to race home with four minutes remaining. Belleau’s conversion was again good.

The last try of the game went to the Red Bulls, who got a consolation try in the dying embers through Ollie Fletcher on the left-hand side; Connon’s conversion was good to extend their tally.

Northampton were just too good for the Red Bulls in the end; after having a slow start, the visitors kicked into gear and showed their quality in attack throughout the 80 to secure the bonus point win and put them in a great position to qualify out of the pool stages of the PREM Cup.

Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Elliott Obatoyinbo, 14 Oli Spencer, 13 Rhys Beeckmans, 12 Cameron Hutchison (Max Clark, 40), 11 Harrison Obatoyinbo (Ethan Grayson, 27), 10 Brett Connon, 9 James Elliott (Joe Davis, 53); 1 Micky Rewcastle (Adam Brocklebank, 48), 2 George McGuigan (captain, Ollie Fletcher, 61), 3 Murray McCallum (Richard Palframan, 48), 4 Jamie Hodgson (Tim Cardall, 57), 5 Oscar Usher, 6 Adam Scott (George Bolam, 40), 7 Tom Christie, 8 Reuben Parsons.

Scorers - Tries: Harrison Obatoyinbo, Richard Palframan, Ollie Fletcher. Conversions: Brett Connon 3.

Northampton Saints: 15 James Martin (George Hendy, 58), 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Tom Litchfield, 12 Toby Thame, 11 Amena Caqusau, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Tom James (Archie McParland, 62); 1 Tom West (Joe Cowell, 53), 2 Robbie Smith (Craig Wright, 53), 3 Luke Green (Cleopas Kundiona, 53), 4 Ed Prowse (James Bennett, 40), 5 Chunya Munga (captain), 6 Archie Benson, 7 Charlie Ulcoq (Jack Lewis, 52), 8 Sam Graham.

Scorers - Tries: Luke Green, Tom James, Charlie Ulcoq, Toby Thame 2, George Hendy, Ollie Sleightholme. Conversions: Anthony Belleau 7