Ashton hat-trick leaves Varndell fuming

TOM Varndell was left ‘fuming’ last night as his Premiership top try scorer record was broken by Chris Ashton.

Ashton, below, scored a hat-trick in Leicester Tigers’ 56-26 victory over Bristol Bears at Welford Road to overtake the former Tigers, Wasps and Bristol winger’s try tally of 92 Premiership tries.

It is Ashton’s fifth hattrick of his career – and his first for almost six years – as he ties the record with Christian Wade and Varndell for Premiership trebles.

After watching Ashton move to 95 tries, Varndell said: “It definitely wasn’t a case of mixed emotions. I only had one emotion when Ashy broke my record, I was left fuming!

“If I was to lose it to anyone, I’m glad it was him. Ashton is like Marmite, you either love him or you hate him but what no one can deny is that he’s a fantastic rugby player and is playing in the best team in England, so I’m sure he’ll score plenty more.”

Ashton initially made his mark in rugby league with Wigan before switching to union in 2007 when he joined Northampton.

He joined the Tigers this season having also played for Saracens, Sale, Harlequins and Worcester in the Premiership, and for Toulon in the Top 14.

Over the course of his 13 seasons in the Premiership, Ashton has scored 33 tries for Northampton, 47 for Saracens, eight for Sale Sharks, one for Worcester and six for Leicester.

The former England international said: “Since the age of five I’ve wanted to score tries, so it’s nice to break the record. This is a good team so there are always going to be opportunities if I’m doing what I normally do. I’m at the stage of my career where I’m desperate to be involved.”