With Will Rigg and Josh Hodge back from injury, the team felt ready to repeat what happened the last time they played the Sharks. Christian Wade also had his eyes on breaking the all-time try-scorer record in the League, set by Chris Ashton, who was present that night.
As soon as the Red Bulls walked onto the pitch, the crowd erupted. Chants rang out as their introduction video played, widely considered one of the best in the league.
The first half started in the Sharks' favour, with strong possession and a few penalties and lineouts. That didn’t stop Josh Hodge from stealing the ball and making the first attempt at danger for the Red Bulls, but the Sharks' wall-like defence stopped him.
The Bulls' style felt disorganised, allowing the Sharks to break through their defence and run down the wing, but both teams created dangerous chances, keeping the game balanced. It wasn't until the 19th minute that George Ford was given a penalty and opened the scoring, giving the Sharks an early lead.
It was a physical game, with several injury scares and early substitutions.
It was a physical game, with several injury scares and early substitutions, including Sam Graham coming on for injured Hoskins Sotutu in the first twenty minutes. The harsh weather made the pitch difficult to play on, causing players to fall and commit reckless fouls.
With no tries and an uneventful first half, the Red Bulls hoped to start finding the end product from their chances and organise their defence to prevent any counter-attack from the visitors.
Meanwhile, in the dressing room, Red Bull UK surprised the audience with an explosive pre-match performance by ex-gymnast Issa Kalfon, though it didn't go down to a crowd-pleasing finish. However, the second time around, he flew across the pitch, waving to the fans with a jet pack.
Once the flying show ended and the second half began, something changed in the Red Bulls' game plan. They played more aggressively and moved the ball around, which had been lacking in the first half and was needed to keep the momentum going.
It wasn't until the 48th minute, after strong offensive play, that Christian Wade scored the first try of the game, breaking the league's ‘Joint All-Time Top Try Scorer Record.’
It wasn't until the 48th minute, after strong offensive play, that Christian Wade scored the first try of the game, breaking the league's ‘Joint All-Time Top Try Scorer Record.’ The stadium erupted in cheers, and so did his teammates, who celebrated with him under the lights. Josh Hodge successfully converted the try, putting Red Bulls four points ahead early on in the second half.
More substitutions followed for both teams. Red Bull’s Francisco Moreno made his PREM debut after signing with the team this summer, and England International Asher Opoku-Fordjour stepped onto the pitch to bring stability to the visitors.
After chipping away at the robust defence, Werner Kok and Christian Wade slipped through; the latter won a penalty on the side entry, creating a point-scoring opportunity. Josh Hodge, once again, converted it, adding more points to the scoreboard.
Sale Sharks continued to give penalties, helping the Red Bulls gain confidence in attacking. After a quick turnover by Werner, he managed to steal a lineout, which was successful for the Red Bulls as they scored their third and last try of the night.
George McGuigan, a graduate of the Gosforth Academy in Newcastle, took the try under his belt and was quickly celebrated by his teammates and fans who chanted his name, whilst the Sharks huddled with distress visible on their faces.
With only 20 minutes left on the clock, Newcastle led 17 to 3, making it clear that this would be their first win of the season. Sharks felt defeated, but they still disputed for the ball.
As the full-time whistle was blown, the iconic Blaydon Races erupted through the speakers at Kingston Park. The Sharks ended the game with no tries, making it their first game of the season without a successful conversion apart from the penalty kick, although they showed a really strong defence.
Newcastle Red Bulls chipped away in the final attempt, showing improved defence compared to previous games and the end of last season. The home team stood strong in their defensive line, not letting Sharks concede a try and also avoiding unnecessary fouls, making it a clinical game for the Red Bulls.
Our defence is a work in progress; it’s built on cohesion and connection.
Dan McFarland, head coach for the Red Bulls, said that the ‘defence has been consistent’. He also said the conditions were not favourable for fast rugby. ‘Our defence is a work in progress; it’s built on cohesion and connection’. He also noted that when a team has a lot of new players, it takes time to build those individual relationships.
This game has put the team in a strong position for the rest of the season. It has reaffirmed that this summer's signings are working and are evolving into a successful campaign. But the question lingers: will it be enough to finish higher in the table?