Saints Under-18s 'beaten by a better side on the day', but Under-17s prevail
Head coach Charlie Reed admitted Saints Under-18s were 'beaten by a better side on the day' after they suffered their second defeat of the PREM Next Gen Season last weekend.
The Saints youngsters lost 38-24 away to Newcastle Red Bulls, despite tries from Charlie Hammick, Elijah Jeyes, Sonny Goode and Charlie Tamani.
Reflecting on the encounter at a freezing-cold Kingston Park, Reed said: “It was a tough result. I think we were beaten by a better side on the day.
“I thought Newcastle came out firing with a good game plan and executed it really well.
“From our side, we were just second to everything in the game, which is something we’ll need to address.”
However, it was a better day for Saints Under-17s as they followed the Under-18s game with a 31-26 friendly success against Newcastle Red Bulls Under-17s.
The Saints tries came from Ben Jones, Tommy Karpanos, Benji Patterson, Alfie Mutuma and Josh Miller.
Saints Under-18s against Newcastle Red Bulls: 15 Fin Shields; 14 Elijah Jeyes, 13 Will Catley, 12 Ashton Cox, 11 Charlie Tamani; 10 Sonny Goode (c), 9 Caelin Chin; 1 Aiden Reid, 2 Ferdi Barnett-Vincent, 3 Noah Buxton; 4 Rafferty Hewitt, 5 George Tonga’uiha; 6 Ronan Perkins, 7 Will Hepher, 8 Charlie Hammick.
Replacements: 16 Charlie Utting, 17 Lucas Veevers, 19 Ted Warner, 20 Reuben Williams, 21 Harry Sturla, 23 Will Howes.
Saints Under-17s: 15 Kai Manson; 14 Finn Westley, 13 Joshua Miller, 12 Fin Shields, 11 Tommy Karpanos; 10 Giovanni Panariello, 9 Neal Tuladhar; 1 Toby Seaman, 2 James Slater, 3 Ben Jones (c); 4 William Higgins, 5 Archie McHarg; 6 Will Hart, 7 Jordan Johnson, 8 Oscar Wells.
Replacements: 16 Alfie Mutuma, 17 Oliver Surley, 19 Oliver Bloomfield, 20 James Egan, 21 Massimo Rapps, 22 William Watkins, 23 Benjamin Patterson