Loan Watch and Academy Roundup

The London Irish Academy continued its season with nine players out in loan action across the National League and beyond, alongside Bishop Wand school entering the second phase of the RFU ACE League.

Squad loans

Calum Scott pulled on the London Scottish jersey in the Championship Cup over the weekend, playing out 50 minutes for the Exiles as the Richmond side were eventually defeated 12-24 to Doncaster Knights at home.

Scott however carried strongly and put up a solid contest at the set-piece, tackling well too without the ball with Scottish now sitting second in Pool 2 of the tournament having endured a defeat and win.

Winger Alex Harmes started and completed a full 80 minutes in his first outing for Ampthill, who also competed in the Championship Cup this weekend with the winger’s speed and line-breaking ability on display in a 29-5 win.

An Exile double threat of Jack Walsh and Ben Atkins aided in a first win of the season in National League 1 for Esher, who took a scintillating 41-33 victory back to Surrey from Chinner.

Walsh (centre) and Atkins (number eight) both started, with the young back adding to a strong defensive outing with a runaway try from his own half on half-time.

Atkins’ 50-minute effort was felt in his typical strong ball in hand capabilities, most notably working off the Esher put-ins, with robust tackling and running helping in the win.

Rams achieved a perfect 10 wins from their opening 10 games with Ollie Allan (scrum-half) and Lucas Brooke (back-row) starting for the Reading outfit, leaving it late to finish off a tough Plymouth Albion 26-14.

Brooke continued the trend of great carrying for Irish’s loanee back-rowers with a notable line break, as well as getting over the ball at the breakdown in several instances.

On his first start at National League 1 level scrum-half Allan dictated play out of the ruck, in particular with his kicking, as a late Ellis Jones try ensured a perfect record for Rams.

Monty Bradbury slotted three conversions for Rosslyn Park for their first win in three games, including one from the touchline, winning 40-12 against Leeds Tykes.

The young fly-half also nudged through a kick for the opening try, collected by Tom Stanton to be worked out to Charlie Walker as Bradbury was withdrawn early at the break with Park’s dominance evident.

In National League 2 East, high-flying Barnes are now level on points (37) with Dorking at the helm of the division with thanks to Exiles Louis Kirkham and George Makepeace-Cubitt, who dismantled Westcliff 53-14.

Back-row forward Kirkham went over for a second quarter try in the convincing victory, keeping himself busy around the field with tackles and ruck clearouts as Makepeace-Cubitt being introduced as a replacement.

The regular full-back was utilised out wide for the travelling Barnes side, a rapid attack from the latter through the Westcliff rearguard instigating one of the side’s nine scores which was finished off with a sumptuous offload.

ACE

London Irish’s ACE school, Bishop Wand, tasted defeat in their first RFU ACE League second phase fixture against Beechen Cliff, Bath’s ACE side in a 24-14 loss.

Both Mario Ikuomola-Andre and Brandon Vince added second-half tries, with out-half Louie Heard contributing four points from the boot but it was to be Beechen Cliff’s day in the West Country.

Bishop Wand’s second round continues with a home tie against Leicester Tigers’ Brooksby Melton this Wednesday (16^th).

Bishop Wand

15 Kian Norval, 14 Sam Rockley, 13 Theo Williamson, 12 Ben Bysouth, 11 Elijah Green, 10 Louie Heard, 9 Rourke Fletcher-Lister; 1 Kamron Greenaway, 2 Charlie Holyer, 3 Brandon Vince, 4 Mario Ikuomola-Andre, 5 Ollie Game, 6 Finn Worley-Brady (c), 7 Ciaran Thomas, 8 Ralph McEachran.

Replacements

16 Martin Chalmers, 17 Milo Bourginon, 18 Archie Cleeve, 19 Ed Bachelor, 20 Michael Morgan, 21 Ben Littlefair, 22 Martin Betsen.