LONDON IRISH'S clutch of internationals are struggling with just one win from five matches in the Courage League. The team conceded three tries in the last quarter to Saracens when losing 37-23 on Saturday.
Trailing 13-15 at half-time, with the scores coming from a Niall Woods try and two penalties and a conversion from David Humphreys, London Irish fell away sadly in the second half and by the time they got a penalty try converted by Humphreys, the game had gone beyond them. They are now in grave danger of relegation and will not be encouraged by having to face Bath next week.
Will Carling never ceases to amaze as England's ex-captain, added yet another skill to his armoury in keeping Harlequins way ahead in League One on points difference.
Carling, a centre for 20 years, switched by request to stand-off at Northampton and organised a 20-15 win in which he contributed a try and five important points with the boot.
He missed more than he kicked but then so did Northampton's Paul Grayson, who has not done his England chances much good in the season's openers.
"I enjoyed playing stand-off," said Carling. "It was very different from centre and I have to be realistic about how much work it will take. But during the match it became easier."
Wasps also retained their 100 per cent record with an inevitable win at Orrell. Shabe Roiser and Laurence Scrase, two of their gifted youngsters, both scored twice and Vaaiga Tuigamala contributed one of the tries.
Bath and Leicester, the top two last season, are reviving after a couple of early defeats, though Bath often have trouble of some sort against West Hartlepool. They won comfortably enough by 46-10 but West's captain, Mark Ring, normally so laid-back spent much of the match arguing with the referee and the opposition.
West prop Wayne de Jong was sent off near the end and there were also three yellow-cards. In an acrimonious aftermath Bath coach Brian Ashton said: "Every time there was a stoppage, West tried to prolong it by arguing or scuffling.
Leicester achieved a rare try burst in overpowering Gloucester 32-14. including one by Rory Underwood, but Martin Johnson was yellow-carded. The result left Gloucester still pointless, along with Orrell.
Bristol managed a useful away win. Tongan wing Dave Tiueti claimed a pair of tries as Bristol raced into an early 24-0 lead at Sale. But they were hit by a whirlwind of points and were losing 31-30 when Paul Burke kicked the 72nd-minute winner - Bristol's first league victory at the Heywood Road ground.
The penalty-try count for League One reached 12 in 30 games, with three at the weekend, compared with a mere eight in 90 matches last season.
Referees are now cracking down on persistent offences and among the sharpest officials is Steve Lander, who awarded his third penalty-try of the season in the glamour match in League Two at Richmond, upsetting Rob Andrew. The award enabled Richmond to hit back and take the lead before Gary Armstrong's try and Andrew's conversion brought a 20-20 draw for Newcastle.
The draw left London Scottish unexpected leaders as they made it four straight victories by crushing winless Nottingham.
