Haskell lands debut try as Saints

SAINTS finished preseason with a 100 per cent record as they fought their way to a dominant seventry victory over Glasgow Warriors on Friday night.

James Haskell bagged a try on his Franklin’s Gardens bow, scrum-half Cobus Reinach score twice and further efforts came from hooker James Fish, wing Ken Pisi and replacement James Grayson as well as a penalty try.

Despite both debutant Dan Biggar and Rory Hutchinson both being forced off inside the opening five minutes, Biggar taking a whack after masterminding an attack, Saints took an early lead.

The ball was propelled rapidly from right to left and Haskell popped up on the wing, diving in for his first try and a dream beginning in the black, green and gold.

As Warriors pressed forward, scrum-half George Horne was yellow carded for dissent before full-back Ruaridh Jackson joined him five minutes later in the bin, penalised for a deliberate knock-on with Saints given the penalty try.

Despite being down to 13 men, flying wing Fijian Niko Matawalu superbly created a score for Tommy Seymour on the 20th minute.

Fish finished a catch-and-drive to score his sixth try in three pre-season games but Glasgow responded immediately with Matawalu going over.

Tom Collins superbly grubbered the ball through

for Burrell and after the centre gathered, the ball was worked to Reinach who reached out to score just before half-time.

And Saints extended that advantage just after the break as some Samoan style provided their fifth score.

Samoan pair Ahsee Tuala and Pisi finished off a move in the corner after the restart before Reinach’s second on the 55th minute.

As the benches were emptied, several familiar faces took to the field including England skipper Dylan Hartley.

Glasgow wing Van der Merwe crossed over but pressure from a lineout allowed Grayson to pick up and sidestep his way over the line to round off a good win for the Midlanders.