Northampton Saints have begun their title defence in emphatic fashion, securing a comfortable 59-26 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls at Franklin's Gardens. Just three months after clinching their second Prem title, Saints demonstrated their dominance.
James Pater and Tommy Freeman were the stars of the show, each running in three tries. George Hendy, Alex Coles, and Ollie Sleightholme also contributed a try apiece, leading to a nine-try haul for Northampton.
Despite the significant defeat, Newcastle Red Bulls, who have welcomed 25 new players this summer, managed to score four tries. This effort secured them a losing bonus point, offering a glimmer of hope that they may avoid the bottom spot in the Prem for the first time in five seasons.