Ashton facing ban for punch
CHRIS ASHTON’S World Cup dream could be dealt a serious blow today if he is cited by the RFU after another disciplinary scrape.
Ashton was sent off for punching in Sale’s pre-season friendly against Castres on Friday night and Twickenham chiefs will decide if he faces charges this morning.
The union are waiting on a report from match officials but videos appear to show Ashton hitting Castres No9 Rory Kockott during Sale’s 20-17 win.
In 2011, Manu Tuilagi was banned for five weeks for punching Ashton in a club game. A similar suspension would see Ashton ruled out of England’s next training squad, which is due to be announced next month.
Kockott also saw red in a game in which three players were sent off – Sale prop Alexandru Tarus was the other – and there were three yellow cards.
Full-back Ashton moved to Sale in July in a bid to get back into the England reckoning after a year in Toulon, which made him ineligible.
Eddie Jones picked him for an England training camp at the start of the month. But this latest brush with the law will not help Ashton’s case – he has previously been banned for gouging and biting. ASHTON LEON HASLAM proved he is the king of Cadwell Park, doubling up to take his ninth Bennetts British Championship race victory yesterday.
Haslam scorched to his third double-win at the track after seeing off a charge from Jake Dixon in the second race. “I felt really comfortable when I was behind him but when I was in front I found it hard,” said Haslam. Club – and the first prize of £225,000.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Waring. “I wasn’t sure this day would come in total honesty. I’ve tried so hard for many years to get to this point and it’s nice to finally get across the line and be holding the trophy.”
Germany’s Max Kieffer was third and Thorbjorn Olesen’s fourth place was enough to see him displace Ian Poulter in the final automatic qualifying berth for next month’s Ryder Cup, with just two events remaining.