Wade equals Prem record as Newcastle beat Sale

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Newcastle winger Christian Wade equalled Chris Ashton’s Prem try-scoring record against Sale

Tries: Wade, McGuigan Cons: Hodge 2 Pen: Hodge

Christian Wade equalled Chris Ashton’s Prem try-scoring record with a 101st score as Newcastle Red Bulls posted their first league win of their season against Sale Sharks.

On a blustery night dominated by kicking, penalties and stubborn defence, the match delivered a 17-3 win for the hosts and the try that Kingston Park wanted, with Wade going over in the right corner to draw level with Ashton nine minutes into the second period.

While a second eluded Wade in a game of few chances, George McGuigan managed to smuggle the ball over at the back of a maul as Newcastle stretched clear to post only a fifth win in four Prem seasons.

Despite Wade’s milestone, the match was far from a thrilling spectacle.

However, Newcastle coach Dan McFarland will be keen now to build on this first step against a side who had been unbeaten in their previous two league outings and among the names in the title conversation before the start of the season.

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If talks beforehand had centred on Wade’s potential march into the record books, it was typical that there were barely any chances for anyone in the first half.

Almost half an hour passed without Wade even touching the ball, a period during which England fly-half George Ford kicked a penalty for the visitors for the only points before half-time.

It was scrappy and narrow in difficult, gusty conditions which invited a high-kicking game early from both sides – yet there was something for defensive purists to cling to, with both sides withstanding pressure in the shadow of their own posts.

Both teams had also turned down the chance for long penalties and after one too many Sale transgressions for using hands on the ground, Newcastle again elected for Brett Connon to kick towards the corner, not the posts, from 40 metres out.

It was that decision that finally delivered the platform for Newcastle to first hammer away on the left then eventually go through hands out wide right to where a grateful Wade was waiting.

Josh Hodge added the extras to give Newcastle a 7-3 lead and he extended that to 10-3 with a simple close chip over after Sale were again penalised, this time for entering from the side.

From there, the next score seemed pivotal and it was much to the home crowd’s relief when a rumbling, powerful maul allowed ball-carrier McGuigan to drop down behind the line just after the hour.

Hodge’s left foot fired a low conversion under the gusting wind to increase the advantage to 17-3 with 12 minutes to go to secure the win – a result that leaves Harlequins as the only team yet to win a match in the Prem this season.

‘Wins are difficult to come by in this league’ – reaction

Newcastle coach Dan McFarland, speaking to BBC Radio Newcastle:

“I am buzzing about the performance. I felt a lot of effort went into that and a lot of physicality in that game as we knew there would be against Sale. It was a battle and that first half was tough.

“We had a lot of chances down in their 22 but we weren’t patient enough and at the end of the half we had to put in a real effort in our own 22 to keep the score at 3-0. We showed our resilience and score a couple of good tries and to fight back, reset and go again was what pleased me the most.

“There is no turning point here – this is a long journey. Wins are very difficult to come by in this league. But we are not going to get ahead of ourselves. There is a lot in that game we need to grow.

“It is not relief. It is not euphoria. We are definitely pleased that all the effort and hard work we have put in paid off in getting a victory – but we roll in next week and go again.”

On Wade equalling the Prem try-scoring record: “He is a high-energy player and high-energy guy. He knows how to find the tryline, which is what all good wingers do.

“I watched him right at the end of the game when we were in their 22 and he’s buzzing because he was thinking that might be the opportunity to get one ahead.

“He will get there, goodness willing. He is a tremendous guy and he deserves it.”

Line-ups

Newcastle: Hodge; Wade, Harris, Rigg, Kok; Connon, Benitez Cruz; Rakete-Stones, McGuigan, Millar Mills, Usher, Tuima, Hicks, Christie, Sotutu.

Replacements: Togiatama, West, Moreno, Baker, Leatherbarrow, Graham, Elliott, Henry.

Sale: Carpenter; Roebuck, Marchant, Maasi-White, O’Flaherty; Ford, Hanson; N Smith, Cowan-Dickie, Francis, Van Rhyn, Bamber, Tshiunza, B Curry, T Curry.

Replacements: Jibulu, McIntyre, Opoku-Fordjour, Canakaivata, Dugdale, Lozowski, Louw, Reed.

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