In a gripping encounter at Sandy Park, Exeter Chiefs secured a 34-28 victory over Newcastle Red Bulls on October 7, 2023, as Christian Wade made history by scoring his 100th Prem Rugby try.

Exeter kicked off with a stunning start, with Ross Vintcent scoring just 38 seconds in. The hosts led 19-14 at half-time after Wade scored twice, giving Newcastle a brief lead. Wade's hat-trick came early in the second half, capitalizing on a mistake from Henry Slade.

Key highlights include:

• Exeter Tries: Vintcent (2), Slade, Harris, Tchumbadze
• Newcastle Tries: Wade (3), Hicks
• Final Score: Exeter 34, Newcastle 28

Despite the loss, Newcastle earned two bonus points, keeping them at the bottom of the league. Dan McFarland, Newcastle's head coach, expressed pride in his team's effort despite the disappointment of losing narrowly to last season's finalists.

The match featured eight tries but lacked the scoring frenzy of the previous weekend's 18-try thriller between Northampton and Bath. Slade's 64th-minute penalty and Tchumbadze's late try sealed Exeter's first win of the season, closing the gap to leaders Gloucester.

The sparse crowd of 7,071 witnessed a thrilling display as both teams showcased their attacking prowess, although Exeter ultimately emerged victorious, marking a significant moment in Wade's illustrious career.