Christian Wade equalled the all-time top-flight try-scoring record with his 101st score as Newcastle Red Bulls secured a 17-3 victory over Sale Sharks at Kingston Park, matching the milestone previously set by Chris Ashton.
Wade Equals Ashton at Kingston Park
The milestone arrived nine minutes into the second half against Sale Sharks. Rather than taking a kick at goal from a penalty advantage, Newcastle chose the right corner, where the 35-year-old winger went over to lock himself alongside Chris Ashton at 101 career tries in the competition. The score broke a tight, blustery contest dominated by defence, kicking, and territory.
Sale had taken a 3-0 interval lead courtesy of a penalty from George Ford. Newcastle seized their chance after the restart, with Josh Hodge converting Wade’s historic score to turn the tide.
Captain George McGuigan later extended the hosts’ advantage just past the hour mark by finishing off a pushover score from a line-out maul. Hodge added the extras and a penalty to round out the 17-3 scoreline, leaving Harlequins as the sole remaining side without a league victory this term.
Journey Across Code and Continent
Wade’s path to the top of the all-time list spans more than 15 years and multiple sporting disciplines. His first top-flight score came as a teenager for Wasps in a May 2011 defeat away to Exeter Chiefs, playing alongside World Cup winners Josh Lewsey and Simon Shaw. He amassed 82 tries for Wasps, finishing as the competition’s leading try-scorer across three separate campaigns before making a high-profile switch across the Atlantic.
In 2018, he joined the Buffalo Bills via the NFL’s International Player Pathway. He featured in pre-season matches and spent three years on the practice squad without making a regular-season appearance before returning to rugby union via French club Racing 92. Stints with Gloucester and a six-month spell in rugby league with Wigan Warriors preceded his arrival at Newcastle.
Growing up playing rugby, it didn’t really add up. I thought I’m obviously not someone they are looking at for the trajectory of the team, so instead of focusing on England, my whole focus was on myself and the team I was playing for and went even harder.
Christian Wade, via Yahoo
Dan McFarland Praises Newcastle Resilience After First Win
Newcastle head coach Dan McFarland praised his side’s resilience after they overturned a scoreless first half to pick up their first win of the campaign.
McFarland expressed his admiration for his veteran winger’s instinct near the whitewash. He knows how to find the tryline, which is what all good wingers do
the outlet reported, as the coach described himself as buzzing about the performance
.
For his part, Wade insisted that individual milestones take a backseat to team cohesion and execution.
I sometimes feel the record is more important to other people than it is to me. I am someone who is going to score tries. That’s what I do. That’s what I love to do. But that is the result of the team performing well and us having great cohesion.
Christian Wade, via Bbc
Next Saturday at Saracens
Everyone can see I’ve got a lot of life and a lot of sport in me. Even post this season and getting the record, I want to keep playing until I don’t have the juice anymore.
Christian Wade, via Yahoo
The opportunity to claim the all-time record outright arrives next Saturday, when Newcastle travel to face Saracens.