Ex-Files Volume VI

The Autumn Internationals drew to a close for the majority of nations on Saturday.  Heyneke Meyer’s South African charges won at Twickenham after England controversially kicked a penalty with only a minute to go.  Ben Kayser started his first match for France as they overcame strong resistance by the Samoans to win 22-14.

National League 2 North; Will Hurrell bagged a brace as Stourbridge made it a 13^th straight maximum against Hull Ionians, his brother Rob also played.  In the South section Luke Beales played for Shelford as they lost at home to a Hartpury College side with Sam Raven in the second row. 

One league higher and Rob Conquest and Michael Gillick were part of the Cambridge side that lost 39-12 at Blaydon.  Ollie Smith’s Esher side beat Macclesfield 35-3 as Charlie Walker grabbed two tries for the Surrey side whilst Joe Clowes made his second appearance of the season for Macc.  Scott Bemand’s Loughborough Students went down 41-5 at home to Ealing, Joe Atkinson featured on the flank. 

In the Championship 3 ex-Tigers scored in the recently christened “Robin Hood Derby” between Nottingham and Doncaster.  Joe Duffy and Brent Wilson scored for the Green and Whites whilst Jethro Rawling grabbed Doncaster’s try in a 52-7 thrashing.  Matt Parr, Dan Montague and Alex Shaw started for Notts with Finlay Barnham, Rory Lynn and Joe Cobden featuring from the bench.  The Knights also started Dante Mama.  Loanees Ryan Bower, Joe Cain and Andy Symons also played in this match.  

Phil Boulton, Ben Gulliver and Greg Gillanders were all in the Bedford pack as the Blues beat the Pirates 32-6 at Goldington Road.  Ben Pienaar scored his first try in senior rugby as Moseley 23-18 away to London Scottish.  Calum Green and Dan Hemmingway were the locks as Leeds beat Rotherham in the new “Yorkshire Regiment” cup 24-13 at Clifton Lane.  Tom Bowen played his 5^th game of the year for Plymouth as they lost at home in an ugly encounter with Bristol, the match being punctuated with a 30 man brawl that garnered 1 red and 2 yellow cards.  In Jersey Dean Richards and John Wells’s Newcastle struggled to a 24-3 win, though it was enough for the bonus point, as the Islanders featured Dave Markham and Fred Silcock.

RaboDirect Pro12; Ian Nimmo played the last 4 minutes as Newport beat Connacht at Rodney Parade for their first win since September.  Greig Tonks continued his ever present season as Edinburgh’s full back as they beat Ospreys 23-13.  Leo Cullen and Shane Jennings started for Leinster as they won 6-0 against Tom Ryder’s Glasgow side. 

In Italy’s Excellenza David Young continued his ever present season for Lazio as they lost away to title chasing Prato 20-16.

In the Premiership Andy Goode scored all the points as Worcester won 12-3 at home to Paul Gustard’s Saracens.  At the Gardens Dorian West will have been pleased as his side scored a penalty try to win 23-16 against London Welsh, who become Adam Balding’s 6^th premiership side.  Jim Hamilton captained Gloucester as they won easily against bottom side Sale, Billy Twelvetrees was also involved for Gloucester.   

Tom Varndell scored early as Wasps, captained by Marco Wentzel, beat the Tigers in Wycombe.  Brian Smith’s London Irish side continued their struggles as they lost at home to Exeter, where Robin Cowling is on the coaching staff; Ian Humphreys scored 13 points with the boot but it wasn’t enough as the final score was 23-27 to Exeter.  Chris Whitehead played the whole game for the Chiefs.