London Welsh team news

Posted on May 22, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh head to Mennaye Field for the 1st leg of the Championship final looking to reverse their recent run of poor form at the home of the Cornish Pirates.

The Exiles have lost on their last three visits to Mennaye Field and have not beaten the Pirates in their last three meetings.

When the sides met at Mennaye Field earlier in the season, the Pirates enjoyed a comfortable 27-6 victory – Rudi Brits, Dave Ward and Matt Evans scoring the home side’s tries.

That followed a 17-17 draw at Old Deer Park, in which Alex Davies came off the bench to land three late penalties to give the Exiles a share of the spoils.

The Exiles’ previous visit conjures no less favourable memories, coming in last season’s 18-10 Championship semi-final defeat. Welsh led 10-3 at half-time thanks to Matt Corker’s try, but second half scores from Gavin Cattle and Rhodri McAtee sent the Pirates into the final.

The regular 2010/11 season also produced a home win for the Pirates, 22-3. McAtee scoring the only try of the game.

Welsh have to go back to March 2010 for their last win at Mennaye Field, when 22 unanswered points saw the Exiles snatch a 28-24 victory. Nathan Bonner-Evans, Charlie Gower and Ben Thomas the London Welsh try scorers.

The Exiles’ last win over the Pirates came in November 2010 when the Exiles won 23-16 at Old Deer Park. Aled Thomas kicking 18 points and Dom Shabbo crossing for the home side’s only try.

(more…)

Ross demands 80-minute Welsh performance

Posted on May 22, 2012 in Championship, Cornish Pirates, London Welsh

Mennaye Field hasn’t been the happiest of hunting grounds for Gordon Ross or London Welsh in recent visits, but both will need to reverse that trend, or as near as, if the Exiles are to move a step closer to the Championship title.

Welsh head to Cornwall for Wednesday’s 1st leg of the Championship final double-header with the Pirates (kick-off 7:45pm), having lost on their last three visits to the ground.

That losing run includes last season’s 18-10 semi-final defeat, with the Pirates going on to contest the final with Worcester Warriors.

The sides’ meeting in January at Mennaye Field produced a comfortable 27-6 win for the Pirates on a miserable afternoon on the south-west coast. It was a game which also saw Ross see yellow.

“The last three times we’ve been down there in the league we haven’t performed, we’ve been really disappointing,” said Ross.

“We’ve been in and out of the game but not put together a performance for 80 minutes.

“The one thing the Pirates do is they come at you for 80 minutes, they don’t give you any space or time.

“We’ve got to make sure that for 80 minutes we’re nice and proactive and ready for that challenge, and hopefully we can put our game together and challenge their defence.

“I’ve not had a great time down at Pirates personally, but that’s up to me to sort out.
I’m hoping to take inspiration from the big football game last Saturday – Hearts beating Hibs 5-1 in the Scottish Cup final!”

(more…)

Ireland squad for NZ tour

Posted on May 21, 2012 in Ireland

Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named a 29 man squad that includes three uncapped players for the three test tour of New Zealand in June.

Declan Fitzpatrick and Mike Sherry are included up front while Simon Zebo is named in the backs as is Darren Cave, who won two caps on the North American tour in 2009.

There are a number of spaces left vacant with a further prop, second row, back row and scrum half to be added before the squad departs for New Zealand.

Brian O’Driscoll returns to the Ireland squad for the first time since the Rugby World Cup and has been confirmed as Captain for the tour.

(more…)

England Women name team for winner takes all clash in European Cup

Posted on May 18, 2012 in England Women

The England Women’s team to play France in the winner takes all FIRA-AER European Cup clash this Saturday in Rovereto, Italy, kick off 630pm BST, has been announced.

Head Coach Graham Smith has made five changes, and one positional, to the team that defeated Italy 32-8 on Tuesday. Lichfield’s Sarah Hunter will once again captain the side which welcomes back Emily Scarratt (pictured) and Katherine Merchant to the starting line-up. Both Merchant and Scarratt were involved in England’s victory in the IRB Challenge Cup Sevens in London on Sunday.

Bristol’s Marlie Packer and Worcester’s Rochelle Clark return to bolster a strong England pack, while Ceri Large moves to fly-half and Kim Oliver is back in at centre.

Smith, whose side like France have defeated both Italy and Spain in this tournament, said: “The spirit in the camp is very good and we are confident that we have a strong enough team to defend our European Cup crown.

“This is a strong England pack, while our backs have also been performing. Georgina Rozario is playing some of her best rugby ever at scrum-half, and Ceri Large is developing into a good international fly-half. Kim Oliver has also been in top form this season, Emily, Kat and Danielle are world class players while Lydia really has the potential to be a world class wing.”

The final England versus France match is set to be a thriller with matches this season between the two sides evenly matched. France have beaten England twice this season, but England took the most recent victory in the RBS 6 Nations in March.

Smith added: “Our players like nothing better than playing France and they’ll be really up for it. We know we’ll have to be at the top of our game for this one, with France being a tough and physical side. Like us they have some new caps in their squad, but they also have the nucleus of their Six Nations side here. They have a good kicking game, can move the ball around well and have a big effective pack and we know they’ll be really up for this match.”

(more…)

Scott hails Welsh ‘heart’ as Exiles reach Championship final

Posted on May 14, 2012 in London Welsh

London Welsh try scorer Nick Scott (pictured) hailed the Exiles’ “heart” after a gutsy defensive effort propelled the Old Deer Park outfit into their first-ever Championship final.

It’s was Scott’s second half try that proved the difference as Welsh lost the 2nd leg of their Championship semi-final with Bedford Blues 24-17, but took the tie 30-27 overall.

“It feels amazing; all the boys put in a monumental effort in defence, so much heart and so much grit,” said Scott. “It’s what the club deserves and has been building towards.

“There was so much heart in that performance, everyone put it in. I’m just glad we’re going to the final for the first time.”

Scott pounced for his sixth try in ten appearances for the Exiles since joining the club on loan from Bath, when he chased down Gordon Ross’ kick and capitalised on a mistake by Blues centre Henry Staff.

“I wasn’t getting much ball in hand, so I just chased hard. A kick is only as good as the chase. I got a bit of luck, but I’ll take that every day,” he said.

“You’ve just got to put the pressure on and you never know what’s going to happen. That will probably happen maybe one in ten times, but as long as you keep putting yourself in that position that one time is beautiful.

“I was getting a bit worried. Last weekend I had the ball slapped out of my hand as I was going over. I was so glad to get back on the score sheet.”
Scott’s try and an Alex Davies penalty saw Welsh open up a 30-13 lead on aggregate, but there would be late drama at Old Deer Park as tries from Don Barrell and Neil Cochrane – the latter after what looked like a clear knock on by Alex Rae – reduced the gap to just three points with eight minutes to go.

“We all thought it was a knock on, so credit to the boys for coming back from that,” said Scott.

“The momentum was with Bedford but we stopped that, we got a few penalties, we put it in their half and came away with the win.”