Ashton receives IRPA Try of the Year award

England wing Chris Ashton fittingly received the IRPA Try of the Year 2010 Award on Saturday after becoming the first player to score four tries in a single Six Nations match in his side’s 59-13 defeat of Italy at Twickenham.

In crossing for four tries against the Azzurri to take his tally for the season to six, Ashton also became the first Englishman to score four tries in a Five or Six Nations match since Ronald Poulton achieved the feat against France on 13 April 1914.

A prolific try scorer, Ashton has now scored nine tries in as many Tests since making his debut against France last March and with two matches to go has already equalled the record for tries in a single Six Nations campaign currently held by Will Greenwood (2001) and Shane Williams (2008).

After his heroics on the Twickenham turf, Ashton was presented with his IRPA Try of the Year award by IRB Vice Chairman Bill Beaumont. The wing’s memorable try against Australia last November came out on top of a public vote involving 18 shortlisted tries from 2010.