Saints warm up for PREM opener with comfortable win against battling Black Lion

The black, green and gold brought back their internationals, with the likes of Alex Coles, Henry Pollock, Fin Smith and Tommy Freeman getting their first game time ahead of the new campaign.

And there was an ocean between the sides as Saints cruised to victory, seven days before starting the new PREM season with a home game against Newcastle Red Bulls.

There were some injury fears for Saints though as Toby Thame had to be helped from the field during the first half and Danilo Fischetti and Anthony Belleau were forced off during the second.

Fischetti appeared to suffer an arm issue, bravely trying to battle through it before he was withdrawn, while Belleau had to come off for a head injury assessment just seconds after scoring.

Saints already have a lengthy injury list, which includes two looseheads, so they can ill afford more absentees ahead of the season opener.

However, they needed to get minutes into many of their key men before the Newcastle match, and the clash with Georgian side Black Lion provided that chance.

Saints made a flying start as a lovely crossfield kick from Fin Smith landed in the hands of George Hendy, who cruised over for the game's opening score.

Smith missed the conversion from the left touchline and there was soon a flashpoint as the two sides engaged in some less than friendly behaviour in the pre-season scrap.

Saints booted the subsequent penalty downfield and attempted to turn the screw again, but Black Lion did well to hold out on the edge of their own 22.

Saints were soon hit by two scrum penalties in quick succession as the Georgian side's set-piece strength showed.

Black Lion couldn't profit from the field position though and they were soon on the back foot again as Pollock broke superbly from his own 22.

Archie McParland took the pass and then tried to kick to a wide open Hendy on the left, but the effort was a bit short and Black Lion scuffed a clearance into touch.

Saints piled on the pressure and Curtis Langdon was the man to make the most of his side's surge as the hooker went over for the hosts' second try of the night.

Smith converted to make it 12-0, and he was soon adding the extras again after his tidy grubber kick went into the path of Hendy, who dived on it and slid over the line to score.

Saints were 19-0 up inside the opening 15 minutes, but Black Lion hit them with a sucker punch thanks to a superb solo score from full-back Otar Metreveli, who chipped ahead and turned on the turbos to dot down.

The conversion was missed and Saints soon responded as Cleopas Kundiona proved too strong from close range, powering over for his team's fourth try of the night.

Smith easily added the extras and Saints were gradually getting into the groove, lifting the speed of their play as each minute ticked by.

They almost engineered an eye-catching effort that started inside their own half, but Thame's attempted long pass out to the left was deemed forward by referee Sara Cox.

It wasn't too long before Saints did score again though as they continued to play at a pace that their opponents couldn't live with.

Tommy Freeman provided the finish to a flowing move before Smith converted, but the black, green and gold suffered an injury blow as Thame had to be helped from the field after an earlier incident.

Rory Hutchinson was a more than able replacement, but he was having to come on earlier than hoped.

Saints continued to kick on and some more rapid handling opened the door for Freeman, who again provided the finish for his side.

It was all Saints and after James Pater was stopped just short by a big hit, the hosts recycled the ball quickly for Josh Kemeny to turn on the power and dive over.

Smith converted and Saints were closing in on a half-century at 45-5 up with three minutes of the first half still to play.

Saints lost a man to the sin bin just before the break as Hutchinson was shown a yellow card for killing the ball as he stopped a dangerous attack on the Black Lion left.

But being a man down didn't hinder Saints as they headed back up the other end of the field and scored again, with Smith pulling the strings once more before Pater glided over for the try.

Smith couldn't convert, but the half-century was up for the hosts, who would now turn their attentions to making some replacements to manage the squad ahead of the Gallagher PREM opener.

Danilo Fischettii, Tom Lockett, Tom Pearson and Ollie Sleightholme were sent on in place of England men Manny Iyogun, Coles, Pollock and Freeman.

And Pearson wasted little time in making his mark as he powered over after a prolonged spell of Saints pressure.

Smith converted well and Saints continued to turn to their bench, with the likes of Alex Mitchell and Belleau among those coming on with half an hour to go.

Fischetti looked hungry for action and after Saints won a penalty close to the away line, he immediately called for a replacement ball to be sent onto the field so he could use the field position to put his head down and power over.

Belleau missed the conversion but he was soon making amends, slotting a nice kick after Saints had caught Black Lion with a quick lineout, allowing Callum Chick to score.

Saints kept coming forward and after breaking from their own half, the backs combined to send Sleightholme over on the right.

Belleau converted superbly but there was an injury issue as Fischetti had to come off.

Saints kept scoring regardless, with James Martin doing well before Mitchell gave the ball to Belleau, who dotted down.

Hugh Shields converted but the joy was shortlived as Belleau had to go off for a head injury assessment, dealing another blow to Saints on a night when injuries had bitten again.

The remainder of the game was largely scrappy if still hard-fought as the Georgian side, to their credit, gave it their all.

And Black Lion would have reward for their efforts as they notched another nice try, making it one in each half, drawing warm applause from the Franklin's Gardens faithful, who appreciated the efforts of the away outfit.

But Saints had the final say as Sleightholme went over in the left corner to ensure his side finished with a flourish.

Saints: 15 James Pater (James Martin 61); 14 Tommy Freeman (Ollie Sleightholme 40), 13 Toby Thame (Rory Hutchinson 26 (Sonny Goode 68)), 12 Fraser Dingwall (c) (Hugh Shields 61), 11 George Hendy (Thomas Rowe 61); 10 Fin Smith (Anthony Belleau 50), 9 Archie McParland (Alex Mitchell 50); 1 Emmanuel Iyogun (Danilo Fischetti 40 (Jordan Els 63)), 2 Curtis Langdon (Robbie Smith 50), 3 Cleopas Kundiona (Ion Neculai 50); 4 Alex Coles (Tom Lockett 40), 5 Ed Prowse (Chunya Munga 50); 6 Josh Kemeny (Aiden Ainsworth-Cave 50), 7 Henry Pollock (Tom Pearson 40), 8 Callum Chick (Jack Lewis 61).

Black Lion: 15 Otar Metreveli; 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kvesaladze (c), 12 Tornike Kakhoidze, 11 Roma Makhatadze (Luka Tabatadze 40); 10 Davit Imnadze, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili; 1 Dato Adbushelishvili, 2 Irakli Kvatadze, 3 Nikoloz Khatiashvili; 4 Mikheil Babunashvili, 5 Vladimir Chachanidze; 6 Michael Curry, 7 Lasha Tsikhistavi, 8 Leavasa Potu.

Replacements: Giga Kobakhidze, Vakhatang Jincharadze, Shota Kheladze, Giorgi Kimutsadze, Giorgi Mamaiashvili, Demur Efremidze, Davit Arveladze, Luka Narsia, Giorgi Tsutskiridze, Otar Giorgadze, Temur Dzodzuashvili, Luka Tsirekidze, Luka Tabatadze.

Referee: Sara Cox