Saints Under-18s bid to get back on track at finals day

Saints Under-18s head coach Charlie Reed wants his side to get back on track when they take part in PREM Next Gen finals day at Kingsholm on Sunday.

The black, green and gold have not made the showpiece this year as that will be contested between Bath and Bristol Bears, who won 47-24 at Saints last Saturday.

Saints Under-18s were beaten by Bristol Bears Under-18s last weekend (picture: Will Gupwell)

placeholder image — Saints Under-18s were beaten by Bristol Bears Under-18s last weekend (picture: Will Gupwell)

That confirmed the Bears' place in the final, leaving Saints disappointed as tries from Will Hepher, Will Howes, Sonny Goode and Elijah Jeyes proved to be in vain.

And Reed said: “Firstly well done to Bristol, I thought they played a great game and good luck to them in the final.

“Ultimately, we didn’t value the ball enough which gave Bristol opportunities and that cost us the match.

"Hopefully we’ll be able to turn it around for Sunday on finals day.”

Saints will now go up against Exeter Chiefs in the fifth/sixth-placed play-off at the home of Gloucester on Sunday (kick-off 3.15pm).

Saints Under-18s: 15 Hardy Linnell; 14 Elijah Jeyes, 13 Sonny Goode (c), 12 Cal Tarry, 11 Charlie Tamani; 10 Kai Manson, 9 Caelin Chin; 1 Lucas Veevers, 2 Kingsley Gallimore, 3 Aiden Reid; 4 Rafferty Hewitt, 5 Archie McHarg; 6 Seb Dare, 7 Reuben Williams, 8 Will Hepher.

Replacements: 16 Charlie Utting, 17 Ben Jones, 18 George Tonga’uiha, 19 Connor Wright, 21 Harry Nath, 22 Ashton Cox, 23 Will Howes.