Humphreys has all the answers

Round-up

Bottom of the table it may have been, but there was nothing lowly about the Courage League One encounter between London Irish and West Hartlepool.

Visitors West took a one-point lead into half-time but it was the home side who finished the stronger, Irish pulling away to win, 52-41.

The Irish international outside-half David Humphreys was the Exiles' hero with 22 points from five conversions and four penalties.

Conor O'Shea's lunge under the posts put Irish in command after the break, and they never looked back after their No 8 Barry Walsh put them further ahead a minute later. West clawed their way back through John Stabler's penalty, only for Walsh to touch down again three minutes later.

Unbeaten Richmond maintained their supremacy in League Two with a 39- 10 victory over visitors Coventry. The Midlanders never got to grips with a Richmond pack who punched holes in the Coventry defence all afternoon. The Quinnell brothers, Craig and Scott, were rampant, with Scott scoring his 18th and 19th tries of the season.

Swansea increased their grip on the Welsh National League top spot by grabbing maximum bonus points in their 42-17 win at Newport.

Swansea romped to an early 27-3 lead but the hosts rallied with tries from Ian Jones and Jan Machacek to get within 10 points before the League leaders stamped their authority on the game. The Welsh international prop Christian Loader and scrum-half Andy Booth were the main thorns in the side of Newport, scoring two tries apiece for the All-Whites.

Sale are confident they will beat the big freeze for their all-ticket League One clash with Bath today after spending pounds 3,000 on hiring anti- frost covers. The covers were used to safeguard last Saturday's Pilkington Cup fifth-round tie against Richmond and will stay at Sale until after Saracens visit on 11 January. Bristol, in contrast, are relying on the natural elements mellowing for their match today with Gloucester. Referee Ed Morrison will make a pitch inspection at 11am.