Christian Wade equals Premiership try record as Newcastle beat Sale for first league win of season

Christian Wade equalled Chris Ashton’s Premiership record of 101 tries as Newcastle Red Bulls beat Sale Sharks 17–3 at Kingston Park on Friday.

The winger crossed in the 49th minute to draw level at the top of the competition’s all-time list, helping Newcastle secure their first league victory of the season.

Wade now needs one more Premiership try to hold the record outright.

Wade joins Ashton on 101 tries

The landmark arrived with Newcastle trailing 3–0. Wade received Will Rigg’s pass and finished to put the hosts ahead, with Josh Hodge adding the conversion.

Newcastle confirmed the achievement in their official match report, while TNT Sports’ coverage of the milestone recorded that Ashton was on commentary duty to watch his record matched.

It was Wade’s sixth league try of the season. His hat-trick against Exeter earlier this month had taken him to 100, leaving the record within reach.

Our report on Wade reaching his Premiership century explains how that treble brought him to the brink of Ashton’s total.

Newcastle turn the milestone into a victory

Wade’s score also changed the direction of the match.

Sale had led at half-time through a George Ford penalty, but Newcastle scored all 17 of their points after the interval. Hodge followed his conversion with a penalty before George McGuigan’s try and another conversion settled the contest.

The win ended Newcastle’s search for a first league victory after three opening defeats. The full scoring sequence is in our Newcastle 17–3 Sale match report.

For Wade, the individual achievement came with the team result that had been missing when he reached 100 tries in defeat at Exeter.

A record reached by an unusual route

Wade scored 82 Premiership tries for Wasps before leaving English rugby to pursue American football. His subsequent career took him through French rugby and rugby league before returning to the Premiership.

At 35, he has now matched a record that once appeared beyond reach during those years away from the competition.

Our feature on Wade’s long road to Premiership history traces that journey.

Friday brought him level with Ashton. His next league try would leave him alone at the top.