FOLLOWING EACH BRUISING weekend of rugby we cast an eye over our pro players earning a crust beyond these shores. Mr Kidney, you’re welcome….
Premiership
Ian Humphreys looked to have won an absolute humdinger at the Madejski Stadium before Tom Casson touched down for a hugely controversial, last-minute try.
Humphreys, playing with Tomás O’Leary in the Exiles’ halfback pairing, kicked seven penalties and a conversion, following an opportunistic Guy Armitage try to give his team a 28-26 lead going into the closing stages.
However Harlequins, led by Conor O’Shea, streamed forward and created an opening for Casson only for the centre to fumble the ball. With Casson tossing the ball away in disgust, referee Tim Wiiglesworth referred his decision upstairs and the try was awarded.
The Aviva Premiership action kicked off with Worcester Warriors, featuring Belfast prop John Andress, defeating struggling the Sale Sharks team of Tony Buckley and Cillian Willis 23-16. The result was enough for Bryan Redpath to get the chop at Sale.
Gareth Steenson was the only one of Exeter Chief’s Irish trio to start in his side’s 23-15 defeat to Bath. Ian Whitten came off the bench at fullback for Chiefs in the second-half.
Mark McCall‘s Saracens continued their impressive form with a 16-6 win over Northampton Saints. Shane Monahan was an unused replacement in Gloucester’s deserved 27-21 win over a Leicester Tigers side captained by Geordan Murphy.
Pro12
Robin Copeland came on after 49 minutes for Cardiff Blues at the RDS on Saturday. Unfortunately for the former Leinster player, his side were 47-8 down to his old province. They would go on to lose 59-22.
France
Grenoble, captained by Andrew Farley and with Bernard Jackman as forwards coach, were caught cold by Montpellier as an early try put them behind the eight ball in a 23-6 away defeat.
Stade Aurillicois, the French D2 side of Denis Fogarty and coach Jeremy Davidson, lost 36-20 to league leaders Oyonnax. Munster’s win and the try for Felix Jones did cheer up Fogarty, however.
English Championship
Doncaster Knights did not require the services of former Ulster forward Jerry Cronin to defeat a Moseley side captained by former Irish international Kevin Maggs.
Rotherham Titans, with Eamonn Sheridan and Shane Cahill starting, were hammered 33-0 by Newcastle Falcons. James Kilbane came off the replacements’ bench for Titans.
Ruairí Cushion‘s Plymouyth Albion were beaten 31-22 by Nottingham while a Jersey team containing James Gethings at prop and Brendan O’Brien at scrum-half beat London Scottish 20-17. Brendan Burke played at 13 in Bedford Blues 23-13 loss to Bristol.
