London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones praised his side’s second half display as the Exiles registered their first Championship win in four attempts with a 21-10 win over Doncaster Knights. Welsh trailed 10-6 at the break to an early penalty try, although it might have been more had the home side taken their chances, but second half tries from Simon Whatling and a fifth of the season for full back Edd Thrower saw the Exiles notch their fourth consecutive win at Castle Park. “At half-way we were extremely disappointed with ourselves for our first half performance – our concentration was poor,” said Jones. “But we bucked our ideas up and hit the game hard second half and won it 15 points to nil with a really well worked try from Edd and an opportunistic try for Simon created from good defensive work, and that was enough to give us the four points that we came for.” Late pressure from the Knights saw Welsh finish the game with 13 men as Shawn Pittman and James Tideswell both saw yellow, with the home side camping themselves just metres from the Exiles’ line. “I think we had two unjust yellow...
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MILES BENJAMIN of Worcester Warriors was tonight banned for one week for a dangerous tackle on London Wasps’ Nicky Robinson during the Aviva Premiership match at Sixways on October 28. Benjamin pleaded guilty before a Rugby Football Union Disciplinary Panel of Daniel White (chair), Mike Curling and John Doubleday who imposed a suspension from November 8 to 14. He can play again on November 15. The panel deemed that the offence merited a low end entry point sanction and gave the player credit for his guilty plea and good record. Ian Clark of Hartpury RFC was suspended for two weeks after he pleaded guilty to striking a Redruth player with his head during the National 2 South match on October 8. The suspension runs from October 11 (the date Hartpury imposed a three-game suspension on Clark) to October 21 (he resumed playing on October 22) and from November 8 to 10. He can play again on November 11.
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THE ENGLAND RU Counties XV will expand their extensive international portfolio next year when they visit Africa for a three-match tour during the first two weeks in June. They will also break new ground domestically when they take their game against the Ulster Bank Ireland Clubs XV on March 16 to Lancashire – the first time the Counties XV have played in the North of England. The Counties XV, the representative flagship of the county and community game outside the Aviva Premiership, has already visited North and South America, Europe and the Far East since it was founded in 2002, but this tour to Kenya and Uganda is the first excursion to the continent of Africa, although they have played Tunisia. The programme includes matches against Uganda, East Africa and an East Africa Tuskers Invitation XV. “This is a really exciting tour and exactly what England Counties is all about as a flagship of England Community rugby and a vehicle for promoting the game among other International Board countries,” said Team Manager Michael Old. “Not only will we be playing three fixtures to promote the game into East Africa, but also teaming with Uganda and Kenya Rugby, along with...
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Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu of Gloucester Rugby was tonight banned for three weeks after being found guilty of two charges of Conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game contrary to Rule 5.12 of the Rules of the Rugby Football Union. The RFU Disciplinary Panel of Daniel White (chair), Mike Curling and John Doubleday suspended Fuimaono-Sapolu from November 8 to 28. He can play again on November 29. The Panel found that Fuimaono-Sapolu made or adopted from other users of Twitter, critical or sarcastic comments about the rugby disciplinary process and made, or adopted from other users of Twitter, critical comments about the Rugby World Cup and the International Rugby Board on his Twitter account. The Panel dismissed the charge of making or adopting from other users of Twitter, insulting or provocative comments about Owen Farrell, a professional rugby player, on his Twitter account. Panel chair Daniel White said: “The Twitter forum is not one for ‘banter’ and is not the equivalent of a clubhouse discussion – it is in fact a public forum, and for that reason players should be guarded in what is said and therefore endorsed. We note that over 13,000 people are registered to follow Mr Fuimaono-Sapolu...
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Andy Powell starts at number 8 for Sale Sharks against Saracens in the Aviva Premiership game at Vicarage Road on Sunday (kick off 3.00 p.m.). On the bench will be scrum half Cillian Willis, who has joined the club from Leinster for the rest of the season. Sharks are without number nines Dwayne Peel and Scott Mathie, both injured. Samoan international Tasesa Lavea is named among the replacements and will make his debut if called upon. Sale Sharks: 15.Rob Miller, 14.Will Addison, 13.Johnny Leota, 12.Sam Tuitupou (capt.), 11.Mark Cueto, 10.Nick Macleod, 9.Will Cliff, 1.Alasdair Dickinson, 2.Tommy Taylor, 3.Henry Thomas, 4.Fraser McKenzie, 5.James Gaskell, 6.Richie Vernon. 7.David Seymour,  8.Andy Powell, Replacements 16.Marc Jones, 17.Vadim Cobilas, 18.Tony Buckley, 19.Kearnan Myall, 20.Mark Easter, 21.Cillian Willis, 22.Tasesa Lavea, 23.Tom Brady Sharks’ Executive Director of Sport Steve Diamond said, “It’s a long time ago since I left Saracens. They have created a super franchise. They are now going away from home and winning at Gloucester ,so we know that we are up against a top side on Sunday. “ In the end it’s all about our performance this weekend.  If we get it right in our set piece and defence then we stand a...
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Following Moseley’s second one-point away defeat, at Plymouth last Friday, coaches Kevin Maggs and Craig West have kept faith with the bulk of the team, who will now face Championship leaders, Bristol Rugby. For the south-west team’s visit the Moseley pack is unchanged, but in the backs Brad Hunt, who has been injured for the whole of October, steps back into the right wing berth ahead of Ollie Thomas. Centre, Andy Reay, who captains the side again tomorrow said that the players had been bitterly disappointed to lose at Plymouth after leading for most of the match. “Although Bristol will be a big test,” he said, “we will be hoping to maintain our recent improvements in performance and give our supporters something to cheer”. Starting 15: 01. Tom WARREN; 02.Adam CAVES; 03. Craig VOISEY; 04.David LYONS; 05.Dan SANDERSON; 06.Neil MASON; 07.Michael ELLERY; 08.Chevvy PENNYCOOK; 09. Ryan GLYNN; 10. Bradley DAVIES; 11. William ROBINSON; 12.Andy REAY; 13. Greg KING; 14.Brad HUNT; 15. Anthony CARTER Replacements: 16. Anthony O’DONNELL;17. Charley THOMAS; 18. Richard STOTT; 19. Marshall GADD; 20. Michael MALTMAN; 21. Sam BROWN; 22 Oliver THOMAS.
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