Chris Ashton
Sporting Profile
Becoming only the second England player to score four tries in a Championship match and the first for 97 years hangs lightly on the shoulders of Chris Ashton, who achieved the spectacular feat during the 59-13 win over Italy in mid February.
Chris followed in the stud marks of centre Ronnie Poulton-Palmer, who ran in four as England captain against France at Stade Colombes in Paris on April 13, 1914. Sometimes known as Ronnie Poulton, he had added Palmer to his name after becoming heir to the Huntley and Palmer biscuit fortune.
A try in each quarter of the Italy match added symmetry to the Ashton feat that also brought the man of the match award. With two already tucked away against Wales, it has taken him to a RBS 6 Nations Championship equaling best of six in a single season with two matches remaining. He now shares the record with Will Greenwood (2001) and Shane Williams (2008).
Euphoric praise had already been heaped on Chris for his stunning 85-metre try against Australia in the second Investec International last November and it was richly deserved. Parallels were drawn with the great England scores of yesteryear – by Andy Hancock, Richard Sharp, Peter Jackson and Prince Obolensky. He also joined the elite group of Matt Perry, Rory Underwood and Ben Cohen in notching two tries for England against Australia.
Prolific try-scoring had already crowned his success in the union game since switching from Wigan Warriors RLFC to Northampton Saints on a three-year contract for the 2007-08 season, in which he made 39 touchdowns, a record for what is now the Championship.
His knack of crossing the opposing line continued unabated as was illustrated with his outstanding maiden Test try on his third appearance in the 21-20 victory over Australia at Sydney in June. He followed that with another try in the final tour match against New Zealand Maori in Napier.
Two tries against Wales in early February this year guided England to a 26-19 win at the Millennium Stadium – their first at the ground for eight years.
Chris had headed the try list in the European Challenge Cup in 2008-09 and was not only the 2009-10 Guinness Premiership Player of the Season but the competition’s top try-scorer with 16, five more than his nearest challenger, Joe Maddock, of Bath Rugby.
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