Nine-try Sale trash winless Newcastle

Tom Roebuck scored a hat-trick as Sale ran in nine tries to compound Newcastle's miserable start to a new era in a 57-5 thrashing on Friday.

Newcastle have won just two league matches in the past two seasons, but had hoped for better days after a takeover by Red Bull in August injected fresh funds into the club.

However, they have lost their opening three games of the Prem season, conceding 134 points in the process.

The Sharks ran in five tries before halftime through Rob du Preez, Roebuck, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ernst van Rhyn and Arron Reed.

England wing Roebuck crossed for two more scores in the second half either side of further tries from Nathan Jibulu and Reed.

George Ford added 12 more points via six conversions as Sale moved to the top of the table thanks to two wins from their opening three games.