James shines as Saints ship 77 second-half points in cup evisceration at Saracens

A young Saints side had led 28-19 at half-time in the PREM Rugby Cup clash after delivering a brilliant first-half performance, but it all fell apart in the second period.

James, who exited Franklin’s Gardens during the summer, came off the bench to make his Saracens debut and he ran the show, notching a try and producing several more eye-catching moments as his team ran riot.

Saints shipped a massive 77 points during a second half in which Saracens seemed to be continually celebrating, taking their try tally to a total of 15 in a whopping 96-42 success.

To make matters worse, Saints lost two loosehead props to potentially serious injuries as Oliver Scola and debutant Lefty Zigiriadis had to come off.

It was a sobering start to the season for Saints, who selected a largely inexperienced side against a Saracens team that contained the likes of Nick Isiekwe, Alfie Barbeary and Max Malins.

Saints were forced to make two changes to their matchday squad before the game even started as Chunya Munga and Sonny Tonga'uiha were ruled out.

That meant James Bennett came in to start in the second row, with young tighthead prop Noah Buxton taking the place of Tonga'uiha on the bench.

Tom Lockett took over the captaincy from Munga.

Saracens had named a formidable side full of top-level experience, and the hosts showed their teeth from the start as prop Phil Brantingham forced his way over from close range after his side had won a series of penalties inside the Saints 22.

Saints looked to issue an immediate riposte with some sharp attacking play, but they knocked on with the line in sight and Saracens won a penalty that allowed them to clear deep into the away half.

Saracens hadn't had it all their own way during the formative stages of the game, but they struck again when Saints were exposed on their left, with Tobias Elliott's inside pass just about finding Hall despite a deflection from black, green and gold wing James Martin.

Hall added the extras and though Saints continued to knock on the door, their lack of ball security was stopping them from getting the momentum they craved.

However, Saints kept believing and kept coming forward, eventually getting their reward when lock Bennett powered over next to the right post.

England Under-20s fly-half Hugh Shields slotted the conversion with ease on his debut and the deficit was cut in half.

Saints continued to piece together persistent periods of pressure, making Saracens work hard inside their own territory.

However, the black, green and gold were hit with another sucker punch as good play from Charlie Bracken and Malins broke the line before the ball was eventually fired wide to the left for Rotimi Segun to run it home.

Hall missed the conversion and Saints soon launched another response as they stayed patient in the home 22 and Josh Taylor turned on the power to score on his debut.

Shields converted, but while he was doing so, there was a lengthy period of treatment for Scola, who eventually had to come off the field with his right arm in a makeshift sling.

That brought summer recruit Zigiriadis into the action for his debut and Saints kept pushing on, stressing the Saracens defence to breaking point.

An excellent offload from Taylor opened the door for James Pater to add his name to the scoresheet, with Shields' conversion putting the away side ahead for the first time in the match.

Saints then rubbed salt in the wound with another eye-catching effort as Will Catley sent a kick to the right, the ball bounced kindly, was gathered by Thomas Rowe and he charged forward before sending the ball inside for Catley to score on his debut.

It was a special moment for Under-18s centre Catley, who, at 17 years and 250 days, is the second youngest player to appear for Saints in the professional era, behind Archie McParland.

Shields converted and Phil Dowson's men led 28-19 with half-time beckoning.

Saracens tried to respond before the break but after kicking a penalty to the corner, they were thwarted by some incredibly resilient defending from a determined Saints team who preserved their nine-point lead ahead of the second period.

Saracens made four changes at the break, with one of them being James.

And the bench players were to make a big impact for the home side as replacement prop Alex O'Driscoll scored almost immediately, allowing Hall to cut the gap to just two points with the conversion.

Saracens scored again soon after as James delivered a fantastic 50:22, giving his side great field position, and they used it to send Segun over.

Hall converted and Saints were suddenly leaking points left, right and centre.

James was at the heart of it for Saracens as he notched his team's third try in the space of just seven second-half minutes.

Hall converted and the game had completely turned on its head, with Saints left wondering just what had happened since the break.

It was to get worse soon after as James continued to run the show, breaking forward and finding a tidy pass for fellow replacement and debutant Sione Va'enuku to score.

Hall added the extras once more and Saints were now 19 points down, having led by nine at half-time.

Skipper Malins was next to go over as he added his name to the ever-growing Saracens try tally, allowing Hall to notch yet another conversion.

Saints were struggling to provide any sort of resistance, summed up when Jack Bracken grabbed the ball inside his own half and slalomed his way through to score a stunning solo try.

Hall's conversion made it 61-28 to Saracens and Saints looked desperate to get back on the bus home.

But there was still plenty more time left and lots more damage to be done, with Elliott next to score for Saracens as he crusied in on the right.

More bad news came as Saints lost Zigiriadis to what looked a serious injury as he had to be helped from the field by two members of the medical team.

Hall converted and he was doing so again when Jack Bracken ran through the middle to score again.

Saints were really being made to suffer, but they enjoyed what was now a rare moment of joy when Shields went over for his debut try after a period of pressure in the home 22.

Shields converted, but Saracens were soon running riot again as Jack Bracken completed his hat-trick with a simple score on the left.

Hall converted well to make it 82-35, and it was soon 89-35 as flanker Nathan Michelow ran in unopposed on the right, with Hall converting again.

If you thought it couldn't get worse, it did, as Saints lost two players to yellow cards.

Jonny Weimann was the first to be sin-binned as he was punished for a deliberate knock-on with Saracens looking to score out wide.

The referee awarded a penalty try, and Saracens had their sights set on a century of points with time still left on the clock.

After Saints lost possession in the home 22, Saracens looked to pounce, forcing Ainsworth-Cave to be sin-binned as he killed the ball at the breakdown.

Saracens, roared on by their fans who were desperate for treble figures, thought they had got the hundred when they went over in the corner, but it was in touch, no try and the game was over, to the sheer relief of everyone of a Saints persuasion.

Saracens: 15 Jack Bracken; 14 Tobias Elliott, 13 Angus Hall, 12 Olly Hartley (Sione Va'enuku 40), 11 Rotimi Segun; 10 Max Malins (c) (Finn Keylock 65), 9 Charlie Bracken (Tom James 40); 1 Phil Brantingham (Alex O'Driscoll 40), 2 Eoghan Clarke (James Hadfield 40), 3 Marcus Street (Corne Weilbach 31); 4 Olamide Sodeke, 5 Hugh Tizard; 6 Nick Isiekwe (Totoa Auvaa 61), 7 Nathan Michelow, 8 Alfie Barbeary (Toby Knight 52).

Saints: 15 James Pater (Freddie St John 52); 14 Thomas Rowe (Sonny Goode 61), 13 Will Catley, 12 Toby Thame, 11 James Martin (Fergus Mainey 64); 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Jonny Weimann; 1 Oliver Scola (Lefty Zigiriadis 31 (Robbie Smith 64)), 2 Robbie Smith (Henry Walker 48), 3 Ion Neculai (Noah Buxton 48); 4 Tom Lockett (c) (Aiden Ainsworth-Cave 62), 5 James Bennett; 6 Archie Benson, 7 Josh Taylor (Callum Chick 52), 8 Charlie Ulcoq.

Referee: Henry Pearson