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The London Irish squad have ended their self-imposed alcohol ban but will hope there is no hangover when they host Italian side I Cavalieri Prato on Friday night. - 08/10/2013 10:43
The London Irish squad have ended their self-imposed alcohol ban but will hope there is no hangover when they host Italian side I Cavalieri Prato on Friday night.
Irish boss Brian Smith revealed his players had agreed not to drink during the opening six weeks of the season – a decision which has seen them take two wins from their opening five games in the Aviva Premiership.
Smith admitted his players would celebrate their derby victory over Harlequins last weekend with a few beers but insists they are set up nicely for Friday’s visit of Prato.
“The boys have had a self-imposed drinking ban for the past six weeks,” said Smith.
“That is how much it means to the boys to do well. They made a commitment to each other. It was nothing to do with the coaches – it was led by the senior players.
“We will get a lot of belief from the win over Harlequins and it will fuel the fire for our next game.”
Prato returned to winning ways themselves at the weekend with 21-3 victory over Golden Flame Rome in Italy’s National Championship of Excellence.
Australian full-back Toby Browne kicked four penalties in the win and the former Randwick star has been in superb form with the boot this season.
London Irish ran in nine tries to get their Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 5 campaign off to a runaway start. They had the bonus point in the bag before half-time and will look to build on this big win in Portugal next weekend when they travel to face Lusitanos XV. - 12/10/2013 00:21
London Irish ran in nine tries to get their Amlin Challenge Cup Pool 5 campaign off to a runaway start. They had the bonus point in the bag before half-time and will look to build on this big win in Portugal next weekend when they travel to face Lusitanos XV.
Hooker Jimmy Stevens started the rout with the first try and he inspired new outside half Myles Dorrian to show what he can do with a wonderful solo effort for the second. By the end of a highly successful night’s work, Dorrian had collected 18 points.
Another of the Exiles summer recruits, this time former Scarlets wing Andrew Fenby, was the third try scorer and Samoan international Sailosi Tagicakibau picked up the bonus point score two minutes from the interval.
There were five more tries in the second half as the crowd got their money’s worth. A debut try from centre Fergus Mulchrone’s kick-started the second half scoring and two more tries flowed shortly after Prato’s lock Filippo Gerosa was sent to the sin-bin.
Alex Lewington and a second from Mulchrone ensured Irish took full advantage of their superior numbers and then scrum half Darren Allison got in on the act.
Prato at least had a late consolation try to celebrate from replacement prop Nicolas De Gregori, but the home side had the last laugh when tight head prop Leo Halavatau completed the scoring with a close range try.
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