Christian Wade made history on a blustery night at Kingston Park, touching down for his 101st Premiership try to equal Chris Ashton’s all-time scoring record as Newcastle Red Bulls beat Sale Sharks 17-3 for their first league win of the season.
It was far from a classic — a scrappy, kick-dominated contest in gusting wind — but nine minutes into the second half, Newcastle finally gave the home crowd the moment it came for: hands through the backs, out wide right, and Wade was waiting in the corner to write his name alongside Ashton in the record books.
Christian Wade (Credits: BBC Sport)
Wade Equals Chris Ashton’s Prem Try-Scoring Record With 101st Score
The build-up to the match had been dominated by talk of Wade’s march toward the record, but for nearly half an hour the winger barely touched the ball. George Ford kicked a penalty for Sale for the only points of the first half, and the defensive battle invited a high-kicking game from both sides in difficult conditions.
Newcastle repeatedly turned down kickable penalties, backing themselves to score tries instead — and the gamble paid off. After another Sale infringement for using hands on the ground, Brett Connon kicked to the corner from 40 metres rather than the posts. The forwards hammered away on the left, the ball went through hands to the right, and Wade did the rest.
Josh Hodge converted and then extended the lead to 10-3 with a penalty after Sale were pinged for entering from the side, before the pivotal score of the night: a rumbling, powerful maul allowed ball-carrier George McGuigan to drop down behind the line just after the hour. Hodge’s low conversion under the gusting wind made it 17-3 with 12 minutes to go, sealing the result.
Newcastle’s First Win of the Season Leaves Harlequins Winless Alone
For Newcastle coach Dan McFarland, this was a massive first step. The win was only Newcastle’s fifth in four Prem seasons, and it came against a Sale side that had been unbeaten in their previous two league outings and tipped as title contenders before the season began.
Wade almost got a second try to break the record outright, but it eluded him on a night of few chances. He will not have to wait long for another opportunity — and when try number 102 comes, he will stand alone at the top of the Premiership’s all-time scoring charts.
The result also leaves Harlequins as the only team yet to win a match in the Premiership this season, adding extra spice to a table that is already taking shape.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
