Rugby Union: Vile day for Rugby

ROUND-UP

WEST HARTLEPOOL will fly the flag for teams outside Allied Dunbar Premiership One in tomorrow's draw for the quarter-finals of the Tetley's Bitter Cup after scoring six tries yesterday en route to a 42-11 fifth- round home win over Rugby.

The game was in effect decided by an early try from the home prop Paul Beal while West's other touchdowns came from James Connolly, Tu Nu'ualitia, James Ponton, Emmett Farrell and Stephen Vile, who also kicked three conversions and two penalties. The Jewson League One side's points all came in the first half via a try from their No 8 Jim Withers and two penalties by full-back Martin Davies.

Cecil Duckworth, the millionaire benefactor of the Jewson League team Worcester, is flying from Barbados on Concorde for today's home tie with the Allied Dunbar Premiership leaders Newcastle. Worcester, who upset Bristol in the fourth round, expect a capacity crowd of 4,200 at Sixways, but are without their suspended flanker Chris Scott.

In their cup match with Premiership Two visitors Fylde, the league champions Wasps will rest the England captain Lawrence Dallaglio but welcome back his international team-mates Nick Greenstock and Andy Gomarsall from long- term injuries. Today's other tie sees Sale, runners-up last season, entertain another Jewson League club - Newbury.

Meanwhile, the Jewson leaders London Welsh enjoyed themselves on a rare Saturday off from league action, hammering Blackwood, their visitors from Wales, 100-7 at Old Deer Park.

London Scottish went second in Allied Dunbar Premiership Two with a 22-10 home victory over Exeter and Orrell moved up to third following a 30-21 success at Coventry. Jez Harris kicked all the home side's points, but a hat-trick of tries by the visiting wing Simon Verbickas proved decisive.

The Swalec Cup fifth round featured comfortable wins for Cardiff, Pontypridd and Swansea, whose 54-13 tonking of Tondu included a 29-point haul for Arwel Thomas, but Llanelli had to work hard before squeezing through 8- 0 at Merthyr. Giantkillers Garndiffaith, who knocked out Bridgend in the previous round, fought back from an 11-0 deficit to defeat Rumney 17-11 and reach the sixth round for the first time. Ballymena still lead Ireland's AIB League after beating Clontarf 46-18. Shannon, aiming for a fourth successive title, trail by two points following their first defeat of the season, 18-14 at Lansdowne.