Freeman and Pater inspire Northampton to opening win against Newcastle

Northampton 59-26 Newcastle

Backs both score hat-tricks in nine-try victory

The new season is up and running and so are the defending champions. Northampton’s attacking game was wonderfully slick at times in this nine-try dismissal of Newcastle Red Balls and here was an opening night warning to all their rivals that they are serious about becoming the first club for seven years to win consecutive Prem titles.

There is a huge amount of rugby to be played, clearly, between now and next June but on this evidence their fast-moving backs are once again going to take a lot of stopping. There were a brace of hat-tricks for the classy Tommy Freeman and the exciting teenager James Pater while George Hendy also wasted no time underlining his claims for an England squad place.