Christian Wade equals Ashton’s record

One more try and the record is his alone.

A week after moving to within one try of the record, Christian Wade delivered on Friday night at Kingston Park. The 35-year-old Newcastle wing raced clear on the right in the 48th minute for his 101st Premiership try, matching Chris Ashton’s tally.

Newcastle off the mark

Wade’s try also turned the game. Trailing 3-0 at the break after a George Ford penalty, the Red Bulls went ahead through him, before Josh Hodge (two conversions and a penalty) and George McGuigan, who scored the second try in the 62nd minute, saw it out. After defeats at Northampton, at home to Leicester and at Exeter, Newcastle recorded their first win of the season, and a second home win in a row over Sale after the 45-42 thriller last May. “He’ll get there. He’s a tremendous guy and he deserves it”, head coach Dan McFarland told reporters, as quoted by RugbyPass.

Record within reach at Saracens

Wade now has six tries in four league games this season, and 101 in 157 Premiership appearances, whereas Ashton needed 180 matches to reach the same mark. He can claim the record outright next Saturday, 31 October, away to Saracens.