The Observer from London, Greater London, England • 55

SPOUT 7 The Observer 2 November 1997 Bubbly Bath run rings around Richmond fore the final whistler they scored three tries through Cottrell, Fallon and Scott Quinnell. The only reply for Bath was a try for the replacement Tsimba. field kick was gathered by Evans just inside his own half. The only obstacle was Pinni, and the veteran Welsh international easily rounded him. On the stroke of half-time, Lyle won a line-out and the ball was whipped to Catt, whose break wrong-footed the.

defence. His pass to de Glanville gave the centre the simplest of tries. When Davies burrowed over for a Richmond try early in the second half, the Bath lead was cut to 15, but it still looked insurmountable and first a Catt penalty respectable. Behind the scrum, Bath were more inventive and incisive than the Londoners, with Evans, the British Lion playing his first League game for the club after being dogged with groin injur7, particularly impressive. Both sides had a 50 per cent record in the League before yesterday's game and neither could afford to lose any more ground to the unbeaten sides, Newcastle and Saracens.

Richmond had the better of the early exchanges and Va'a had two penalty kicks failed to hold difficult passes with certain tries awaiting. The reprieve for the Londoners was short-lived with Bath looking increasingly dangerous on the attack. In the 28th minute, a clever angled run by Perry split the Richmond cover. He had the back row in support with first Lyle and then Thomas, who scored the try on his first outing since being sent off in the opening fixture of the season. Nicol showed superb vision in spotting that Richmond left-wing Brown was out of position and his cross- at goal within the first five minutes.

He missed them both and the visitors were quickly made to regret their profligacy. Callard, who had the kick ing duties for the home side, was also off form. He landed a lOth-minute penalty but had three more penalty misses. It was not to matter, though, as Bath's points mounted through tries. Early on, poor final passes saw chances of a home score lost early on.

In one attacking phase of play, both Evans on the right wing and then Adebayo on the left Michael Prestage at the Recreation Ground Bath .47 .31 Richmond THE TWO teams might have been side by side in the League table before -this game, but there was enough of a gulf in quality to warn against writing off Bath. The home side scored seven tries and although Richmond rallied late in the second half their revival was never going to do more than make the final score look Brive a Andrew: On target again Ryan stirs bin row get Robert Kltson atSunbury London Irish 19 Newcastle 35 second breath and then a second try for Evans made sure where the League points would go. Nicol broke from a ruck after Richmond had again turned over possession, de Glanville put Evans away and the wing had the pace to outsprint Brown. Five minutes either side of the hour, Bath scored tries through Nicol and Redman and an avalanche of points looked likely. However, the home side eased up with the game won and the visitors took advantage of lax defending.

In a 10-minute period be bewilderment as Leicester moved through their gears, and yet Glasgow began quite promisingly with Craig, their turbo-charged wing, rounding and out-pacing Healey to cancel out Horak's fourth-minute try. We waited for a real contest but it never came and although the replacement Little and the Cook Islands' fly-half Hayes scored late tries, they could hardly be described as consolations. In between it was carnage. Leicester's fifth try summed up the game. Johnson, the Lions captain, sprinted down the right touchline like a runaway express train before' popping up a pass to his hooker Cockerill, who sprinted in for the most rapturously received try of the lan Bortrrwlck at the Pare Municipal Brive Pontypridd- 25 20 DESPITE THE unique emotional content of the ongoing saga between Brive and Pontypridd, the quarter-final play-off in Brive turned out to be a peaceful if thrilling game.

The stadium was packed, but if any spectators not to mention the 100-odd journalists had come expecting fireworks, they were disappointed. Not a punch nor a head-butt, not even the suggestion of late tackle. Brive dominated the first half, rushing to an 18-0 lead-But a remarkable comeback from the Welshmen saw it turn into a see-sawing match. Brive were the first to score with only three minutes gone. From a line-out just inside the Pontypridd 22, Manhes leapt high to save a perfect catch.

The Brive pack drove hard towards the line, the ball popped out and Lamaison kept inside his marker to score. He converted his own try and several minutes later added a penalty to put Brive ahead 10-0 after only 10 minutes. After a scrappy period of play, Brive struck again in the 24th minute, once more from a line-out. Alegret tapped the ball down and in the split second it took Car-bonneau to control the bouncing ball a gap as wide as a barn door opened up in the Pontrypridd line-out The Brive scrum-half and captain shot through the gap and burst upfield, where he found flanker Magne on his inside shoulder. Magne continued the movement, passing to Duboisset who moved the ball to the bustling hooker Travers who scored.

Lamaison once again converted and Brive led 15-0. Four minutes before half-time, Lamaison kicked another penalty, and if anything the half-time score of Sterling Stirling Bathi Callard (Balshaw SO); Evans, De Glanville, Perry, Adebayo (Tsimba 65); Catt, Nicol (capt); Vales, Long (Regan 59), Ubogu (Hilton 77), L.lanes, Redman, Thomas, Peters, Lyle. Trlaai Evans (2), De Glanville, Nicol, Redman; Thomas, Tsimba. Convaraionai Callard (2), Balshaw. PmiHIhi Callard (2).

Rlohmondi Plnnl (Mason 36); Fallon. Bateman, Cottrell, Brown; Va'a, Moore; McFarland (Crompton 62). Williams, Davies, Quinnell (Codling 79), Gillies. Clarke (capt). Barlow, Quinnell.

Trtaiai Bateman, Cottrell, Davies, Fallon, Quinnell. Convaraionai Mason (3). Rafaraai Pearson (Durham). day. The next most popular was when the early replacement Richards picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and richocheted off the padding of the post to burrow over.

Scots everywhere will break open the whisky bottles when Deano finally hangs up his boots. Laleaatan Horak; Healey, Greenwood, Potter (Malone 68), Lloyd (Joiner 77); Stransky, Serevi; Freshwater, Cockerill, Rowntree (Qarforth 40), Johnson (capt), Poole (Richards Gustard 72), Corry, Back, Miller. Trlaai Horak (4), Stransky (3). Cockerill 2. Corry, Healey, Richards, Greenwood, Lloyd.

Conwaraloiiai Stransky (10). Olaagowi Sangster; Stark (Fraser 29), Jardlne (Metcalfe 29), McGrandles, Craig (Little 59); Hayes, Stott; Mcllwham, Bulloch (capt), Kittle (Beckham 70), Norval (Begley 59), Perrett, Wallace (Shaw 59), Sinclair, McLeish. Trlaai Craig, Little, Hayes. Convaraionai Hayes (2). Rafaraai Oume (France).

opened there was all-round surprise that another footwear giant, Adidas, had offered even more though the sum was not disclosed. Adidas promise that 'the black jersey is sacrosanct', unlike that of Australia, which was redesigned by Reebok. A 'nightmare tour' is how their new coach, Nick Mallett, describes the latest venture of a South African side seemingly in continuous transition. The Springboks arrive in Milan today, six days before the first of five internationals on successive Saturdays the others being against France (2), England and Scot-land, 'But if you think there are only five tests you can IF LONDON IRISH failed to become the first side to defeat Newcastle this season, they could at least reflect that it took an inside job by two-thirds of Ireland's Test front row to frustrate them in a game which provoked controversy about English rugby's new sin-bin regulations. Andrew's leaders had trailed 16-10 as half-time approached.

They were saved by one try from Nesdale and two from Popplewell, but left muttering about the sin-binning of their captain Ryan 10 minutes from time. Ryan was allowed to reappear for the last few moments of injury-time, having been banished by referee Doug Chapman for an illegal shoulder charge at a restart but the arguments will take longer to disappear. If this was the sort of technical rather than disciplinary offence which the sin-bin is supposedly designed for, the subtleties were lost on the Newcastle camp. With the combustible potential of both sets of forwards not least Ryan the odds on the Sunbury crowd being among the first in English club rugby to witness the brandishing of a white triangular sin-bin card were always on the short side. Ryan will know better next time, but with the Irish you still never know where and when they plan to play the joker.

Newcastle clearly didn't either, mistaking the lack of obvious early home fury for a soft touch. Andrew opted not to attempt the first three kickable penalties, although it seemed such Corinthian decision making would be swiftly forgotten when the excellent Lam rounded off a back-row move at a close-range scrum. Both London Irish's inital scores were from quick tap penalties which caught the Falcons looking elsewhere, Corcoran kicking a 21st minute penalty in the first instance and Hogan, after two failed surges from Spicer, wriggling over, six minutes later. Corcoran converted to level the scores. Two more magnificently struck long penalties from the winger followed while Andrew, who kicked all his side's 18 points last weekend in the dour win over Richmond, was temporarily less successful.

He was astray with a penalty and the conversion of Nesdale's try on the point of half-time after Bentley, who had a quiet day on his return to the team, had enjoyed a rare moment with ball in hand. But as the sun and temperature sank, Corcoran 's long-range missiles became a less potent threat and Andrew's 47th-minute penalty from in front of the posts gave Newcastle a lead they never relinquished. London Irlahi O'Shea (capt); Bishop, Burrows, McCall (Burns 59), Corcoran; Humphreys, Hogan; Fitepatrick, Redmond (Kellam 63). Halpln (Kershaw 74), Fulcher, O'Kelly, O'Connell, Spicer, Dawson. Trlaai Hogan.

Convaraloni Corcoran. PanaWaai Corcoran (4). Nawcaatiai Legg; Bentley, Tuigamala, Talt, Childs; Andrew, Armstrong; Popplewell, Nesdale, Van Zandvliet. Archer, Weir, Lam, Ryan (capt), Arnold. Trlaai Popplewell 2), Lam.

Newsdale. Convaraionai Andrew (3). Panaltlaai Andrew (3). Rafaraai Chapman (Yorkshire). think says Mallett.

The former Bath prop, who is South Africa's fourth coach in two years, and has been only a month in post, must reshape a side robbed by injury of Jou-bert, Mulder and Wiese. Three non-white players Paulse, Santon and Hendricks could help to make good the Springboks' promise to become fully represenative by the 1999 World Cup. Philippe Sella is out of the Saracens line-up for today's premiership clash with Bristol at Vicarage Road. Ryan Constable moves to centre, Matt Singer plays on the wing and teenager David Thompson starts a match for the first time at full-back. 18-0 was flattering to the Welsh side such was the domination of Brive in all sectors of the game.

In the second half, however, the Welshmen came back with a remarkable burst of scoring, running up 20 points in just under eleven minutes. Brive clearly went off the boil, particularly in the scrums, and these set favours gave the Welsh a chance to seize the advantage. They started to dominate territorially and virtually their first scoring chance of the game came in the 44th minute when Neil Jenkins converted a close-range penalty. The Pontypridd captain was successful yet again and then with the Welshmen pinning Brive down in their own half they started to dictate terms. Steele Lewis caught Viars in possession on the goal-line, forcing a five-metres scrum Carbonneau knocked the ball out of John's hands but Lloyd was on hand to snap it up and execute a simple inside pass to Spiller who scored Pontypridd's first try.

Only three minutes later Pontypridd struck again with a try to James after a powerful break in midfield from Williams, and with Jenkins' conversion Pontypridd were suddenly in the lead 20-18. Brive then found the resources to strike back. A towering up-and-under from Penaud had the Welsh defence groping; Magne, the flying flanker, picked up the ball and passed to Carrat, who flashed over to score. Lamaison converted from the touchline. Viars; Bomati.

Lamaison. VendirH. Carrat. Penaud. Carbonneau (capt); Casadei.

Travers, Crespy (Laterne 79). Alegret Manhes (Lubungu 49). Van der Linden (Mallier 55). Magne. Duboisset (Sonnes 51).

Trlaai Lamaison, Travers, Carrat. Convaialonai Lamaison (2) PiuHi Lamaison (2). PontyprMdi Wyatt Lewis. Lewis (J Lewis 61), James, Ford. Jenkins (capt).

John; Eynon (A Griffiths 67), Evans, Griffiths. Prosser, Rowley. Spiller. Williams. Lloyd (G Lewis 73).

Trli Spiller, James. Conversions! Jenkins (2). PanaWau Jenkins (2). lMw Fleming (Scotland). stuff by County back Burns, which Easson converted.

Stirling showed more imagination in their attacks and produced much superior finishing. They scored three tries through Mailer, Jam-ieson and Imrie, with Sievewright adding a conversion. They extended then-lead in the second half to 27-16; but the Academicals hit back strongly to take the lead at 30-27. Then it was Stirling1 turn to go ahead at 34-30 before they once more fell behind at 37-34. The final telling blow in this yo-yo contest was struck by Mark McKenzie, the Caledonia Reds outside half, who came on as a late substitute for Mailer.

He started and finished another spectacular handling attack by the visitors and raced in at the posts for a try which he also converted. Edinburgh Acadtmicata Burns (capt). Hey. Barber. Stent Porter (Duncan 58): Easson.

Troup (Chalmers 53): Van der Esch (Wilson 27). Day. Graham. McVie. Hughes.

Harrison, MacDonald. ParrotL Trlaii Barber (2). Burns. Stent Conwikwm Easson (4) Penalty goalai Easson (3). SUrBng County Sievewright MacPhail.

Wright McLaren. Leslie: Mailer (M McKenzie 66). Imrie; Jamieson. McKenzie. Cameron.

Broomfield (Rae 42). Hogg. McKillop. Brough (Keenan 50) Ireland leapt) Trlaai Mailer (2). MacPhail, Imne.

Jamieson. Leslie. McKenzie ConvaraJonsi Sievewright. McLaren. McKenzie.

Ralaraai Murray (Greenock Wander ersl Staying power: Didier Casadei of Brive is unmoved by a Dafydd James tackle during Pontypridd's European Cup-tie. Photograph by David RogersAllsport Ravenous Tigers gobble up underdogs Ian Malln at Welford Road Leicester 90 Glasgow 19 Donald Stewart at Raebum Place Edinburgh Academicals 37 Stirling County 41 KEVIN GREENE, the Glasgow coach, had admitted that his team were 'out and out underdogs'. It prepared the first Scottish side to reach this stage of the Hein-eken Cup for the worst. But even the gloomiest Scots could not have predicted this humiliation. At half-time Leicester had scored a half-century and one feared they might be on their way to three figures.

In the end they had to settle for a mere record points total in the competition and 14 tries. The Tigers had chewed up have just failed to beat the biggest margin of victory in the competition, but Stransky, their Springbok fly-half, now has the individual points record. Stransky's 35 points included three tries, while his fellow South African Horak, outstanding at fullback, went one better, crossing the Glasgow line four times. Inside them Serevi, the Fijian who has reverted to scrum-half showed his full repertoire of tricks, even dumping the Scottish prop, Kittle, with a bone-jarring tackle on the day Glasgow came to earth with a bump. The watching spies from Pau, the club who face the Tigers in the quarter-finals in France next Sunday, must have scratched their heads in now tour not even the exclamation marks that proliferate in most of the autobiographies now flooding the market.

The mechanics of writing such books may be to blame, but this is clearly a no-nonsense young man. A modern man, too, who describes the birth of his partner's first-bom in as thorough a fashion as he details thoughts on whether No 6 or No 7 is his better position. And the new England captain, whose third name is Nero, is an Italian speaker. Indeed, the revelation for most readers will be the interest of the Milan club in this son of an Italian father. After appearing for England against the underdogs and spat them out.

Scotland, who face Australia this month, are in serious trouble if this is their most powerful district side. Their forwards were utterly overwhelmed by the strength and skill of the Leicester pack and the swiftness of their backs. Once the home forwards had realised that they had control of every phase of play, the Tigers were able to move the ball from all corners of the field at will. In mitigation, Glasgow will claim, their largely home-spun side was never going to be on a level playing field with Leicester, whose yeoman English pack has now been complimented by quick-silver southern hemisphere backs. Leicester may division, metaphorically took another step up with their defeat of Orrell by 26-16.

The win, at what used to be a Lancashire fortress, was one of very few in this third round of the Tetleys Cup to defy divisional status. Otherwise, the gulf between leagues was cruelly emphasised, as illustrated by Moseley's 79-10 defeat of Liverpool St Helens. With happy timing, Lawrence Dallaglio's Diary Of A Season (Virgin, 16.99) was published last Thursday, which should provide us with a better picture of England's new captain. The pace is relentless, like a golfer describing each of his 18 holes. And there is scarcely a joke Ailing Lomu will just 'to help his recovery" STIRLING COUNTY collected their first piece of silverware since winning the Premier Division One title three years ago when they turned in a stylish performance to annex the new League Trophy.

That there were 11 tries indicates the tempo of the match. Stirling's greater firepower behind a storming pack earned them seven of the tries. Architect of many of the moves was Mailer at outside hall Apart from sparking frequent attacks, he scored twice himself. Had his goal-kicking been as effective as it normally is, the Stirling win would have been even greater. He missed several earlier penalty chances: latterly the goal-kicking was shared by three other members of the back division.

Stirling gave the home team nine points of a start before settling to a brand of teamwork which eventually wore down the opposition. Easson kicked three penalty goals for the Academicals in the first 17 minutes; but all they could add to that before the interval was a try by full Italy at colts mlevel, young Dallaglio was invited to Milan and offerered a university place. he would have paid me at a time when clearly that was not allowed in Milan's star player, David Campese, told him: 'Get out here, you'll probably earn as much as me' which, says Dallaglio, was a quarter of a million dollars. Had the offer come before he played for England Colts, Dallaglio says he 'would probably have accepted it'. Nike's 30 million offer to sponsor the All Blacks kit had alarmed some members of the New Zealand union, who feared a takeover of their sport.

But when the bids were Rugby Review Norman Harris THE ALL BLACKS depart for Britain today with their best-known player, Jonah Lomu, struggling to find full fitness. A change of medication for the giant winger's kidney problem has had an adverse effect, and he failed to complete a two-mile trial run. "There is no way we're going to put pressure on said coach John Hart. 'He's on the tour to help him come back from a very difficult Ambitious Newbury, newly promoted to the National One.