THE FUSE

Prem Rugby Cup

Northampton Saints (14) 14

Tries Sleightholme, Caqusau Cons Belleau (2)

Newcastle Red Bulls (5) 31

Tries Moore (3), Hutchison, Lockwood Cons Connon (3)

Stewart Moore scored a hat-trick on his Newcastle Red Bulls debut as the Prem strugglers coasted to only their second win of the season against Northampton Saints in the Prem Rugby Cup.

Moore signed this month from Ulster and marked his first appearance in a gold shirt with Newcastle's opening score and two tries in the second period as Red Bulls posted the second win in three cup outings.

Despite the north east outfit being winless and pointless in the Prem, Alan Dickens's side are making good on promises to use the cup as a spark to ignite a revival in the league.

Saints had won their last 11 against Newcastle in all competitions and looked set for a 12th after leading 14-5 at the break with tries from Ollie Sleightholme and Amena Caqusau, whose pace proved too hot to handle.

But with an under-strength Saints lacking creativity after Anthony Belleau limped off injured shortly before the break, Newcastle fed off Northampton mistakes to pounce in the second period.

Two further scores from Moore sandwiching tries from Cam Hutchison and Freddy Lockwood saw the visitors pull clear and move into second place in Group B behind leaders Leicester Tigers.

More follows...

Northampton Saints: Furbank, Sleightholme, Lumley, Thame, Pater, Belleau, Weimann; West, Walker, Tonga'uiha, Prowse, Bennett, Munga, Benson, Brown

Replacements: Manfredi, Scola, Green, Ainsworth-Cave, Graham, James, Litchfield Caqusau.

Newcastle Red Bulls: Grayson, Obatoyinbo, Moore, Hutchison, Hearle, Connon, Stuart; McCallum, McGuigan, Palframan, Usher, Hodgson, Neild, Leatherbarrow, Lockwood

Replacements: Faiva, Brocklebank, de Bruin, Scott, Gordon, Elliott, Clark, Waugh