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Sale Sharks wing Chris Ashton will be hoping to repeat his Round 2 hat-trick this weekend against Bordeaux-Begles
Sale Sharks wing Chris Ashton will be looking to add to his Challenge Cup try tally on Saturday when his side travel to France to play Bordeaux-Begles at Stade Chaban-Delmas.
- Bordeaux-Begles and Sale Sharks have never met in the Challenge Cup before, and Sale will be the 10th different Premiership club Bordeaux have faced in the tournament.
- Bordeaux have lost eight of their last nine home games against Premiership opposition in the Challenge Cup (W1), their solitary victory in that run coming against London Welsh in 2014/15.
- Sale Sharks have won both of their matches so far this season and will be aiming to open their campaign with three consecutive victories for the first time since 2007/08.
- Sale boast the best lineout success rate this season (94%) while they’re also one of three sides to have a 100% serum success rate after two games.
- Sale’s Chris Ashton has scored 10 tries in seven Challenge Cup games,including a hat trick in his last match against Connacht.
VIDEO | Dimes tells @JamalNiaz his final thoughts heading into tomorrow's trip to Bordeaux!#SharkTime pic.twitter.com/iVdUoFgRYq
— Sale Sharks🦈 (@SaleSharksRugby) December 7, 2018
Sale Sharks' Chris Ashton loves playing European rugby
Sale Sharks scored eight tries on their way to securing a bonus point win over Bordeaux-Bègles 50-24 and maintained a perfect start to their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign.
Bordeaux’s Darly Domvo intercept try gave the home side a quick lead, which fly-half Lucas Meret converted but Sale took control soon after.
Tries for Paolo Odogwu and Chris Ashton gave Sale a 12-10 lead and Ashton added another soon after to make it five tries in two European games this season.
Bordeaux’s Cyril Cazeaux was then red carded for foul play, with Sale taking full advantage of their opponent’s deficit with Ben Curry scoring before the break.
A penalty try and efforts from Denny Solomona, Will Cliff and a second from Odogqu extending the English side’s lead in the second half before Sale’s Andrei Ostrikov was red carded.
A further four yellow cards were distributed by referee Ian Davies throughout the match but Bordeaux did manage two converted tries towards the end through Ada Amosa and Gaetan Dominici.
The two teams will face each other again next week in the reverse fixture at the AJ Bell Stadium at 15:00 (GMT).
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