A great way to spend a Friday evening...
Just like his dad....
By TheSaracens
September 24 2025
The first visit of the season to StoneX is always one I look forward to, although the Saints game was tinged with a little bit of sadness in the knowledge that as we’re relocating to Northumberland in the next couple of months, it’ll be one of our last home games, or at least one of our last with the benefit of a 30 minutes or so drive round the A406 although tonight's journey was a little bit a nightmare. Unfortunately, following an accident on the A1, which re-routed what felt in our impatience like every car in North London up Holders Hill Road, we were over half an hour later than planned. Still, we got there in time for a pre-game pie and pint and I was anticipating a good game - as, regardless of the result, they always seem to be against Saints.
Sarries’ squad for the evening looked pretty strong for a Prem (as it's now known) Cup game, with Max Malins back in black (with a swirly red bit a la 2015-16) after two seasons in Bristol, new signing Marcus Street, regular seniors like Theo Dan, Nick Isiekwe, Andy Onyeama-Christie and Roti Segun and a good contingent from our large pool of future stars including the gifted Bracken boys, Charlie and Jack – an undoubtedly proud Kyran was in attendance.
Saints’ squad included a couple of familiar names in James Ramm who always seems to play well against us, and Callum Chick, recently late of the team formerly known as Newcastle Falcons.
The game got underway in warm conditions and a muscular-looking Saints clearly weren’t here for an early-season stroll, as a scrum penalty was kicked to the corner and Chick made the most of the opportunity to go over after just 4 minutes. Saints’ nee Frnchman, Belleau converted for 0-7.
2 minutes later, though, Johnson added Sarries’ first points with an assured penalty for 3-7, and then just 2 minutes after that Segun was set up to scamper over by an Owen Farrell-style looping pass from Johnson who then added the extras for 10-7.
Sarries continued to play some dominant rugby and a series of penalties deep into the opposing half put Saints under pressure. Sarries showed patience at this point in the game, a virtue eventually rewarded when a gap opened up for Malins to cross the whitewash for his first try back at StoneX; the conversion was missed but at the end of the first quarter Sarries were 15-7 the good after Johnson surprisingly failed to convert.
Saints closed the gap to one point just moments later when Van Der Mescht bludgeoned over after a Saints lineout on 21 minutes with taking matters to 15-14. Game on.
On the half hour mark of an entertaining encounter – Sarries looking at times slick and energetic, Saints strong and organised – the visitors took the lead when Chick secured his second score of the game and Belleau finished things off for 15-21.
Saints had wrestled back control, and it was that nuisance Chick who would somehow find his way to the line to secure a first-half hat-trick on 37 minutes, Bellau’s accurate boot giving his side a 15-28 lead.
Sarries would not end the half lying down as Segun gathered the restart and slalomed his way to the line on 38 minutes, Johnson doing his duty to end the half on a positive note and the teams took to the dressing rooms at 22-28 and with much to play for.
A close-ish 40 minutes with the mixed-experience Sarries side playing some lovely rugby in spells, maybe giving s a glimpse of the playing style going forward, while Saints were Saints, physically a little stronger than Sarries and well-organised.
Saints applied some pressure in the opening stages of Act 2 but to the home crowd’s delight it was Sarries who drew first blood on 46 minutes when Onyeama-Christie intercepted a stray Saints pass and then found a well-positioned and jet-heeled Jack Bracken on his shoulder to add the finish. Johnson’s conversion restored Sarries’ lead to 29-28 and everyone in the stadium was enjoying this.
Yet again, though, Saints hit back quickly and only 4 minutes after Bracken the Younger had put Sarries ahead, Saints won a penalty on the 5 metre line which the alert Wright tapped and then barged his way over the line to secure Saints’ fifth try of the match, with Belleau securing a 6-point lead for the team in an (under that light) unappealing, almost whiskey-soaked banana-coloured, away strip.
Another successful Belleau conversion made it 29-35.
On 56 minutes, we saw just how fast Jack Bracken is when he picked up an interception and hurtled most of the length of the pitch, the home crowd roaring him on, to take Sarries within a point to 34-35 after Johnson missed the conversion.
An entertainingly seesaw game saw Saints extend their lead again just on the hour, with the ball coming o ff the back of a scrum to set up Ramm, who worked hard to earn Saints’ sixth try of the evening as he muscled his way over, typifying his side’s greater physical strength, and Belleau slotted calmy home for 34-42.
The game was becoming a little disjointed as Sarries emptied the bench.
With 5 minutes remaining of the game, it was Saints who effectively had the last word when a neat bit of play saw Belleau find Ramm with a looping pass which set the impressive back up to put matters beyond Sarries’ reach with his second try, with Belleau edging Saints to one short of the half-century at 34-49.
A yellow card for Sarries’ replacement Tuimauga on 78 minutes was the last moment of note, and that was it.
Had I been a neutral, I’d have thoroughly enjoyed the game, some good end to end rugby, some memorable moments from Roti and the boy Jack.
My own feeling at the end of the game was that Sarries’ future is in good hands – the youthful Brackens certainly seem, on the night’s display, to have what it takes.
It was also so good to see Max back and scoring.
I enjoyed the slick and lively style that Sarries employed at times - let’s see what the season brings!
Photo: Jonny Browne
SQUADS:
Sarries:
Starting lineup
15 Malins; 14 Jack Bracken; 13 Spink; 12 Hutchison; 11 Segun; 10 Johnson; 9 Charlie Bracken;
1 Carre; 2 Dan; 3 Street; 4 Isiekwe; 5 Sodeke; 6 Wilson; 7 Christie; 8 Michelow
Replacements
Clarke; O'Driscoll; Tuimauga; Sylvester; West; Simpson; Davidson; Jackson
Northampton Saints
Starting lineup
15 Hendy; 14 Ramm; 13 Hutchinson; 12 Thame; 11 Todaro; 10 Belleau; 9 McParland
1 Iyogun; 2 Wright; 3 Davison; 4 Prowse; 5 van der Mescht; 6 Scott-Young; 7 Pearson; 8 Chick
Replacements
Walker; Fischetti; Millar Mills; Brown; Graham; Weimann; Martin; Caqusau
Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2025:10:05:19:59:42 by Darraghgirl.
. Both myself and my brother noted just how exciting the future is for Saracens, lots of young players really staking their claim for a spot in the matchday 23.