Christian Wade equalled Chris Ashton’s top-flight try-scoring record as he inspired Newcastle to their first Gallagher Prem win of the season over Sale.
Wade matched Ashton’s 101 tries when he sprinted over in the 49th minute as Red Bulls recovered from a 3-0 interval deficit to blow Sale away 17-3 at Kingston Park.
Newcastle captain George McGuigan grabbed the other home try, with Josh Hodge adding seven points from his boot.
There was little to cheer for the Sharks, who only had a George Ford penalty to show for their visit to the North East.
However, there was encouraging news for England head coach Steve Borthwick with the Curry twins coming through their first start together in 16 months.
Ben played an hour in his first league start of the programme, having sat out almost all of last term with hamstring trouble, while Tom made just his fourth appearance for club and country since February, making it through to 10 minutes from time.
The contest was a far cry from the fireworks the two teams produced back in May when the host club fought back from 35-10 down to snatch a thriller at the death 45-42.
The only points of the first period came when Ford registered Sale’s first penalty of the season on 20 minutes from in front of the sticks.
And the Sharks thought they had the first try six minutes before the interval from a pack pick-and-go but after endless TV replays, no score was awarded.
Wade’s only meaningful touch in the first half had come deep in his own territory but it took only nine minutes of the second period to show what he could do when he had sight of the opposition line.
Raw power rather than raw pace extended the home lead in the 63rd minute when McGuigan finished off a pushover from a line-out. Hodge’s superbly judged conversion gave his team vital breathing space.
Gloucester deny Bath to stay top of table
Gloucester continued their resurgence to remain top of the Gallagher Prem with a hard-fought 23-5 victory over Bath before a sold-out Kingsholm.
The win looked unlikely when Bath exercised total domination for most of the first half, but somehow Gloucester survived for a morale-boosting victory.
For Bath, it was a disappointing night as they fell to their third consecutive defeat and lost both Santi Carreras and Guy Pepper to injuries.
Freddie Thomas and Max Llewellyn scored Gloucester’s tries, with George Barton converting both and adding three penalties, whereas a try from Kepueli Tuipulotu was Bath’s sole response.
Gloucester had the better of the early exchanges before Bath suffered a huge blow when former Gloucester favourite Carreras slipped and damaged an ankle. The full-back received lengthy treatment on the floor before being helped off to be replaced by Ciaran O’Donoghue.
Bath overcame this setback to produce their first attacks of the night. They too turned down two kicks at goal and looked to have taken the lead when Tuipulotu was awarded a try, but TMO replays showed that the hooker had been hauled down short of the line as he tore away from a driving line-out.
Bath were still able to maintain the pressure by besieging the opposition line. Gloucester conceded a number of penalties and eventually their wing Ollie Thorley was yellow-carded for persistent team infringements.
Another try was awarded, this time to Bath’s Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, but again the try was score was ruled out as the lock lost possession before touching down.
Gloucester conceded 11 penalties in the first 27 minutes and it came as no surprise when prop Ciaran Knight became their second player to enter the sin-bin.
Remarkably it was Gloucester who scored the first points after 31 minutes, when Barton knocked over a penalty after Pepper was adjudged to be off-side.
Gloucester were back up to 14 when Barton soon kicked two penalties in quick succession, but with the last move of the half Bath scored at long last with a try from Tuipulotu from a driving line-out to leave them trailing 9-5 at the interval.
After the restart, Will Joseph became the third Gloucester to be yellow-carded as the centre deliberately knocked on but once again Bath butchered their opportunities and they were made to pay.
Gloucester broke out to secure an attacking platform with Caolan Englefield and Jack Clement making key contributions for Thomas to force his way over.
Bath suffered another blow when their international flanker Guy Pepper was helped off, forcing wing Louie Hennessey to pack down in the back row at the next scrum and their miserable night was complete when Llewellyn forced his way over.