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Charles Piutau into history books with 24 second try


By wasps.co.uk
March 23 2016

Charles Piutau’s blistering score for Wasps on Sunday may have earned him a piece of Aviva Premiership Rugby history, but his own backs coach Lee Blackett still has the bragging rights for the league’s fastest ever try from the kick off.

Frank Halai made Piutau’s score possible at the Ricoh Arena, as he recovered the kick-off, before a powerful Nathan Hughes burst allowed the 24-year-old All Black to cross the whitewash after just 24 seconds – setting the tone as Wasps romped to a 39-12 victory over Sale Sharks.

That sees Piutau into joint-sixth position in the Aviva Premiership Rugby’s fastest-ever tries, but Wasps backs coach Lee Blackett still rules the roost with his 8.28 second score for Leeds Tykes against Newcastle Falcons back in 2008.

Blackett picked up the bouncing ball straight from the kick off from fly-half Alberto Di Bernardo to score an historic try – having had to wait 22 matches and four years before scoring his first try for the club.

He beat the previous record of 9.63 seconds set by another Wasps man, Tom Voyce, back in 2004 against Harlequins, while in the same year Mel Deane’s 17-second effort sees him into third place.

Piutau sits level with Martin Corry in sixth having equalled his 24-second effort, while Tom May and Brett Deacon are just ahead on 20 and 22 seconds respectively. 

Elsewhere Leicester Tigers fly-half Freddie Burns also had a weekend to remember, notching up the first full house in Aviva Premiership Rugby since 2010.

He dropped back in the 75th-minute of his side’s 21-13 victory over Saracens to chip a drop goal through the posts and secure the win – making him the first man to add a drop goal to a try, conversion, and penalty since Ryan Lamb for London Irish.

Aviva Premiership Rugby’s fastest-ever tries:

1.         8.28s – Lee Blackett, Leeds v Newcastle (21 Mar 08)

2.         9.63s – Tom Voyce, Wasps v Harlequins (5 Nov 04)

3.         17s – Mel Deane, Harlequins v Saracens (12 Nov 04)

4.         20s – Tom May, Newcastle v Bath (27 Mar 05)

5.         22s – Brett Deacon, Tigers at Worcester (8 Mar 08)

6.         24s – Martin Corry, Tigers at Irish (19 Sep 04)

7.         24s – Charles Piutau, Wasps v Sharks (20 Mar 16)

8.         26s – Geordan Murphy, Tigers at Quins (22 Dec 01)

9.         26s – Chris Wyles, Saracens at Bath (25 Apr 09)

10.        26s – Sireli Naqelevuki, Exeter at Tigers (3 Sep 11)

11.        26s – Jack Clifford, Quins at Saracens (28 Mar 15)

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