Christian Wade just became only the second player ever to rack up 100 Prem Rugby tries, snagging a hat-trick for the Newcastle Red Bulls today, but it wasn’t enough to stop a brutal 34-28 defeat at Exeter. Wade is now staring down Chris Ashton’s all-time record of 101, sitting just one try shy after his incredible performance.
Wade’s Hat-Trick Couldn’t Save Newcastle
Talk about a rollercoaster. Wade, at 35, was absolutely electric, going over twice in the first half to even give the Red Bulls a two-point lead at halftime. He then exploded early in the second, pouncing on a Henry Slade error to race in for his third score from 40 meters out, hitting that century mark of league tries. The guy is a machine, a former England winger who even tried to break into the NFL back in 2018. He’s been on a journey too, returning to the Prem in 2024 with Gloucester after two years in France, then moving to Newcastle last year after a stint in rugby league.
He leveled the score three minutes into the game for his 98th Prem try after some killer Newcastle passing, then went in for his second just before halftime after Sammy Arnold broke through the Exeter line. Wade even put in Max Hicks for another Newcastle score early on. You’d think all that firepower, all that individual brilliance, would be enough to get a W, right? But nope.
Exeter Finds First Win Amidst Try-Fest
Exeter, on the other hand, had their own story cooking. Ross Vintcent, back from injury, wasted no time marking his return, scoring a try after a mere 38 seconds. This game was a try-fest early on, with five scores shared in the opening quarter, putting Exeter up 19-14. Slade was everywhere, setting up Vintcent for his second try and then selling a gorgeous dummy to coast in from 40 meters for his own score. Summer-signing Sam Harris, making his league debut, dived in four minutes after the restart to restore Exeter’s lead, even if it only lasted four minutes before Wade’s historic third. The hosts even thought they had a fifth try from Stephen Varney, but replays showed a forward pass in the build-up.
Ethan Roots got sent to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle, which gave Newcastle a window, but even that wasn’t enough. Exeter’s Slade later kicked a 40-meter penalty to take the lead with 16 minutes left, and Georgian forward Bachuki Tchumbadze secured their first win of the season in the dying moments with a try from a maul. Exeter finished with a bonus-point win, which keeps them in eighth place in the Prem, closing the gap to leaders Gloucester to four points. Newcastle, sadly, remains winless and dead bottom, even with two losing bonus points from this wild eight-try affair. Only 7,071 fans showed up to Sandy Park, which even led to the closure of the North Terrace. What a day for those who were there.
So, here’s the deal: Christian Wade is on the precipice of history, needing just one more try to tie Chris Ashton’s all-time record. Every eye will be on him next time out. For Newcastle, the individual brilliance is there, but the team still can’t get a win, and that’s the hard truth. Can Wade grab that record and spark a turnaround for the Red Bulls, or will his incredible efforts continue to be overshadowed by losses? We’ll be watching.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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