Saracens 39-31 Newcastle: Six second-half tries overturn visitors’ lead

Saracens scored six second-half tries to beat Newcastle Red Bulls 39-31 at StoneX Stadium, overturning a 10-point half-time deficit as the visitors paid for two yellow cards.

The Saracens vs Newcastle result hinged on a period in which Sam Graham and Alex Hearle were sent to the sin bin, briefly leaving the visitors with 13 players.

Sione Va’enuku, Toby Knight, Nick Tompkins and Noah Caluori crossed as Saracens seized control. Elliot Daly and Rotimi Segun extended the lead before Newcastle’s late response secured a four-try bonus point.

Jamie George had scored Saracens’ only first-half try. Owen Farrell finished with two conversions, while Josh Hodge kicked four conversions and a penalty for Newcastle.

Saracens vs Newcastle: Yellow cards change the game

Newcastle led 17-7 at the interval and threatened again after the restart, with Hearle stopped close to the line.

The match turned when Graham was yellow-carded following an infringement at a ruck near his own line. Va’enuku scored from a close-range tap penalty, cutting the deficit to five points.

Hearle’s subsequent yellow card for a deliberate knock-on left Newcastle two players short. Knight crossed and Farrell converted to put Saracens ahead for the first time, before Tompkins secured the hosts’ fourth try.

Caluori added another after coming off the bench. Daly and Segun then scored to take Saracens into a 39-17 lead, completing a run of 32 unanswered points.

The BBC Sport report identifies Newcastle’s second-half discipline as the decisive shift in the contest.

Newcastle’s strong start comes undone

Hodge’s penalty and a Werner Kok try established an early 10-0 lead for Newcastle.

George replied from a driving maul, but Graham restored the visitors’ double-figure advantage after an attack involving Kok and Hodge.

Newcastle also disrupted Saracens’ lineout as they protected their lead before the break. Their first-half performance offered the prospect of following last weekend’s victory over Sale with another league win.

Instead, the numerical disadvantage after half-time proved costly. Newcastle also had a potential score ruled out when Zack Henry was judged to have knocked on near the line.

Newcastle’s official match report confirms the scoring sequence and the reasons for both yellow cards.

Late tries bring Newcastle one bonus point

Ollie Leatherbarrow and Hearle scored Newcastle’s final two tries, with Hodge converting both to reduce the deficit to eight points.

Hearle’s finish secured the visitors’ fourth try and a bonus point. They finished outside the seven-point margin required for a losing bonus point, however, so took one league point from the match.

Saracens collected five points and moved to 16 from five Premiership fixtures, with three wins and two defeats. Newcastle have nine points, with one victory and four losses.

The hosts’ win followed their 33-15 defeat at Harlequins. The official Premiership standings confirm both clubs’ updated records.

Early injury disruption for both sides

Newcastle lost Elliot Millar Mills to injury after four minutes, with Francisco Moreno replacing him.

Saracens also made an early change at hooker. Theo Dan was replaced by George after failing a head injury assessment, according to PA’s report.

PA also reported that Kok left with a head injury and did not return for the second half. The winger had already scored and helped create Graham’s try during Newcastle’s strongest spell.

Saracens vs Newcastle match facts

Detail	Information
Result	Saracens 39-31 Newcastle Red Bulls
Half-time	Saracens 7-17 Newcastle Red Bulls
Competition	Premiership Rugby, Round 5
Date	Saturday 31 October 2026
Venue	StoneX Stadium
Saracens tries	Jamie George, Sione Va’enuku, Toby Knight, Nick Tompkins, Noah Caluori, Elliot Daly, Rotimi Segun
Newcastle tries	Werner Kok, Sam Graham, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Alex Hearle
Saracens kicking	Owen Farrell: two conversions
Newcastle kicking	Josh Hodge: four conversions, one penalty
Yellow cards	Sam Graham and Alex Hearle, Newcastle
Referee	Ian Tempest