Wade matches Ashton's Prem try record as Newcastle finally win

Christian Wade equalled Chris Ashton's Gallagher Prem try-scoring record with his 101st league score as Newcastle Red Bulls beat Sale Sharks 17-3 at Kingston Park, according to BBC Rugby Union.

The win was Newcastle's first in the league this season and, as Ruck noted, delivered northern bragging rights over their rivals through a defensively disciplined performance.

It came against a Sale side who had arrived unbeaten in their previous two Prem outings and had been talked about in title terms before the campaign began, the BBC reported.

Conditions at Kingston Park were blustery and the opening half offered little beyond kicking duels and dogged defence. George Ford's first-half penalty was the only score before the break, leaving Sale 3-0 up at the interval.

Wade barely featured in the early stages, going almost half an hour without touching the ball as both sides withstood pressure close to their own line and turned down shots at goal in favour of territory.

The decisive platform arrived when Newcastle, instead of kicking a 40-metre penalty at the posts, sent Brett Connon's effort into the corner. The hosts drove play through phases on the left before working the ball wide to the right, where Wade finished to draw level with Ashton's record nine minutes into the second half.

Josh Hodge's conversion put Newcastle 7-3 ahead, and he stretched the lead to 10-3 with a straightforward penalty after Sale were again punished at the breakdown.

Sale could not find a way back into the contest, and after the hour mark a driving Newcastle maul allowed hooker George McGuigan to peel away and score behind the posts. Hodge's conversion into the wind made it 17-3 with 12 minutes remaining, a lead the hosts did not relinquish.

The result was only Newcastle's fifth league win in their last four Prem seasons, the BBC reported, and leaves Harlequins as the division's only side still without a victory this term.

Newcastle coach Dan McFarland told BBC Radio Newcastle he was pleased with the effort his side produced, particularly after a difficult opening 40 minutes. "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," he said.

McFarland pointed to his side's composure after failing to convert early pressure into points. "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," he said.

He was keen to play down any sense of a turning point. "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," McFarland said, adding: "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's milestone, McFarland praised the winger's instincts in front of goal. "He is a high-energy player and high-energy guy. He knows how to find the tryline, which is what all good wingers do," he said, before adding: "He will get there, goodness willing. He is a tremendous guy and he deserves it."

Newcastle will look to build on their first league win of the campaign when they return to action next week, with McFarland stressing there remains plenty for his side to improve on despite the result.