European Challenge Cup
Newcastle Red Bulls (7) 14
try: Helle McCallum shortcoming: Connon Chamberlain
Lion(10) 10
try: davis shortcoming: Francis Pen: Francis
Christian Wade came off injured on his debut for Newcastle Red Bulls as his new side beat the Johannesburg Lions in the European Challenge Cup.
Wade lasted just over 30 minutes before being brought down by a poor challenge from Lions winger Angelo Davis.
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He caught Wade with his flailing arm on the blind side, which resulted in him being shown a yellow card and causing the former Wasps and Gloucester man to leave the pitch after several minutes of treatment.
After early tries from Davies and Newcastle’s Alex Heller, South Africa led by three points for more than 50 minutes until Murray McCullum’s 79th-minute try won a duel.
It was Red Bull’s second of two wins in the competition, putting them second in Group Two and well within their reach of reaching the knockout stages.
On a blustery night at Kingston Park, Davis threw an interception to try to get the scoreboard running, and then Boetta Chamberlain burst through the Lions defense and passed to Heller, who tied it.
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Sam Francis’ penalty gave the visitors the lead again before Wade had his first chance to attack the Lions defence.
The former Wasps and Gloucester man was particularly disappointed to be forced off the pitch through injury as he looks at Chris Ashton’s all-time goalscoring record at Prem.
Newcastle prop Ollie Fletcher was sent off shortly after his teammate suffered an injury and his side survived waves of pressure near their own defence.
With the Lions unable to advance, the Red Bulls kept fighting and turned the tables in the final 10 minutes.
They struggled on the penalty line until substitute McCallum fired in from close range to secure Newcastle’s second consecutive win late in the game.
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Newcastle Red Bulls: Stewards; Wade, Heller, Hutcheson, E. Obatoyinbo; Grayson, Stewart; Brockbank, Fletcher, Palflaman, Arthur, Baker, Gordon, Christie, Leatherbarrow.
Alternatives: McGuigan, Rucastle, McCallum, Hodgson, De Chavez, Elliott, Connon, H Obatoyinbo.
Yellow card: Fletcher (39)
Johannesburg Lions: Lombard; Maxwane, Rass, Kriel, A Davids; Francis Stein; E Davis, Brandon, RF Schoeman, Sjoblom, R Schoeman, Du Plessis, Kumar, Steenkamp.
Alternatives: Botha, Lyon, Van Vuuren, Delport, Cairns, Pede, Dobera, Jonker.
Yellow card: Davies(31)
Referee: B Rousselet (France)
