RUCK's player ratings as Christian Wade made PREM history, equalling Chris Ashton's try record.
His try earned Newcastle Red Bulls side their first win in the league with a brilliant defensive performance and the northern bragging rights over rivals Sale Sharks at Kingston Park in the Gallagher PREM.
Sale opened the scoring with George Ford's penalty going straight through the uprights.
This would be the only points scored in a tightly contested first half, with both defences on show, preventing multiple try-scoring opportunities.
Christian Wade would make history when he flew over for his 101st Premiership try to equal Chris Ashton's record and give Red Bulls the lead, sending the home fans wild. Josh Hodge's conversion was good to add two.
Hodge would extend Red Bull's lead, adding three more from close range.
An inspired second half from Red Bulls, buoyed by the Kingston Park faithful, would earn their second try through George McGuigan, who powered home from the back of a maul.
Newcastle would see it out in the end to earn a hard-fought victory, sending Kingston Park into euphoria and awarding themselves their first win in the league and the all-important bragging rights of the north in the derby weekend in the Gallagher PREM.
Scroll down for Newcastle Red Bulls vs Sale Sharks player ratings.
What was the biggest story of the match?
Newcastle Red Bulls player ratings
- Pouri Rakete-Stones – 5/10
- George McGuigan – 7/10
- Elliot Millar Mills – 5/10
- Oscar Usher – 6/10
- Rusi Tuima – 5/10
- Max Hicks – 7/10
- Tom Christie (c) – 6/10
- Hoskins Sotutu – 5/10
- Simón Benítez Cruz – 6/10
- Brett Connon – 6/10
- Werner Kok – 6/10
- Will Rigg – 6/10
- Chris Harris – 6/10
- Christian Wade – 7/10
- Josh Hodge – 7/10
Replacements
16 Zuriel Togiatama – 5/10.
17 Tom West – 5/10.
18 Francisco Moreno – 6/10.
19 Finn Baker – 5/10.
20 Ollie Leatherbarrow – 6/10.
21 Sam Graham – 5/10.
22 James Elliott – 5/10.
23 Zack Henry – 5/10
Sale Sharks player ratings
- Nicky Smith – 5/10
- Luke Cowan-Dickie – 5/10
- Tomas Francis – 5/10
- Ernst van Rhyn (c) – 5/10
- Ben Bamber – 5/10
- Christ Tshiunza – 5/10
- Ben Curry – 5/10
- Tom Curry – 5/10
- Dom Hanson – 4/10
- George Ford – 4/10
- Tom O'Flaherty – 5/10
- Rekeiti Ma'asi-White – 5/10
- Joe Marchant – 5/10
- Tom Roebuck – 4/10
- Joe Carpenter – 5/10
Replacements
16 Nathan Jibulu – 4/10.
17 Si McIntyre – 4/10.
18 Asher Opoku-Fordjour – 4/10.
19 Elia Canakaivata – 4/10.
20 Sam Dugdale – 4/10.
21 Alex Lozowski – /10.
22 Marius Louw – /10.
23 Arron Reed – 4/10
Star player
Christian Wade – 7/10
It just had to be him; as soon as he got the ball in his hands, there was only one outcome.
His record-breaking try put Red Bulls into life and kick-started their second half, and they went from strength to strength with an inspired defensive performance to earn the victory
Biggest flop
George Ford – 4/10
For a player of his quality and skill level, Ford had a below-average performance for his standard and struggled to dictate play and drive his side forward, especially with Sale being limited to scoring only three points from his penalty kick.
They dearly struggled due to the performance of the Red Bulls' defence but were not helped by the quiet showing from their fly-half.
Match scorers
Newcastle Red Bulls: 17
Tries: Wade (49), McGuigan (62)
Cons: Hodge (2)
Pens: Hodge (1)
Sale Sharks: 3
Tries:
Cons:
Pens: Ford (1)
