Sexton’s brother makes Premiership debut while Rowley scores first try

THERE WERE A number of Irish coaches and players involved in the English and French club action over the weekend.

We’ve rounded it all up so you can keep an eye on the Irish abroad.

Grenoble, coached by Bernard Jackman and Mike Prendergast, moved back up to fifth in the Top 14 with a comprehensive 33-19 bonus-point win at home to Oyonnax on Saturday afternoon.

O’Gara’s Racing Métro won at home against UBB. Source: Dan Sheridan/INPHO

The Isére-based club have lost just once at Stade des Alpes this season, although next weekend’s trip to Bordeaux [currently sixth in the league] should be a demanding test of their ability on the road.

Former Ulster centre Chris Farrell was back in the 13 shirt for Grenoble on Saturday, making his eighth Top 14 start of the season and continuing his excellent season. 23-year-old scrum-half James Hart played the closing six minutes off the bench.

Elsewhere, Racing Métro squeezed to a 12-9 victory at home to Bordeaux to maintain their top-four position in the table. Defence coach Ronan O’Gara will have been pleased to see his charges keep their tryline intact during an important win.

Aviva Premiership

London Irish’s tough season in the Premiership continued on Saturday as they suffered a 22-6 defeat away to Mark McCall‘s Saracens, who secured third position with their eighth win of the domestic campaign.

Tom Court was at loosehead again for the Exiles, while former Ireland U20 international Conor Gilsenan made his second Premiership start at openside flanker.

Gilsenan was with Connacht on a loan deal last season. Source: James Crombie/INPHO

Ex-Leinster centre Eamonn Sheridan partnered Irish-qualified Fergus Mulchrone in midfield, while scrum-half Tomás O’Leary was used off the bench in the closing quarter.

London Irish’s drop down the table meant Newcastle moved up to 10th, despite losing 39-31 away to Northampton in an entertaining clash on Friday night.

Former Ireland U20 hooker George McGuigan was among the tries for the Falcons having appeared as a substitute with 23 minutes remaining, while Danny Barnes made his first Premiership start of the season on the left wing.

The ex-Munster man has been playing for the Newcastle’s A side in recent times, but his form has pushed him back into the first team. The 25-year-old will now hope to secure his position for the remainder of the campaign.

Exeter Chiefs suffered a disappointing 26-25 home defeat to David Humphreys‘ Gloucester on Saturday afternoon to drop to sixth. Gareth Steenson kicked two conversions and two penalties to underline his excellent record off the tee.

Jerry Sexton, younger brother of Ireland out-half Johnny, made his Premiership debut off the bench for the Chiefs. The former Ireland U20 lock completed 35 minutes in the second row for Rob Baxter’s men, while Ulsterman Ian Whitten was also used off the bench.

Sexton [19] celebrates a try for the Ireland U20s in 2013. Source: Matteo Ciambelli/Inpho

As with Barnes, Sexton has been impressing in the English A league, and will look to build on his maiden appearance in the Premiership.

Scrum-half Paul Rowley scored his first try for London Welsh in their 24-13 loss at home to Conor O’Shea‘s Harlequins. Rowley was making his second Premiership start since joining from Plymouth last summer, and lined out beside out-half Piri Weepu.

27-year-old Irish-qualified back row Peter Browne played the full 80 minutes for Welsh against his former club, but there was no first win of the campaign for the home side.

Bristol maintained top spot in England’s second tier with a comprehensive 55-18 win over Plymouth on New Year’s Day. Former Leinster loosehead prop Jack O’Connell was in the front row making his sixth start of the campaign.

On the losing side, ex-Munster duo Eoghan Grace and Declan Cusack both started, the latter kicking a conversion and two penalties. Ben Woods, previously capped by Leinster A, made his 10th start of the campaign at outside centre, while scrum-half Ruairi Cushion was used off the bench.

Saturday afternoon saw Kevin Maggs‘ Moseley side beaten 23-15 at home by the Bedford Blues.

Elsewhere, former Ulster out-half Kieran Hallett was instrumental in the Cornish Pirates’ 30-12 victory over Jersey. The prolific goal-kicker was on target with three penalties and three conversions to move the Pirates into sixth in the league.

In the Jersey XV was number eight Michael Noone, who developed at Leinster. The 25-year-old was making his sixth start of the season, having already scored two tries from the back row.

Yesterday saw Rotherham notch an important 23-21 win on the road against Doncaster, with the Titans’ band of Irishmen making their presence felt.

Ex-Leinster wing Michael Keating scored a brace of tries, while Ulsterman James McKinney kicked the remaining 13 points.

Michael Keating [left] in action for Leinster in December 2010. Source: Ryan Byrne/INPHO

Fullback Sean Scanlon and flanker Ali Birch were also in the starting team, while Willie Ryan and Adam Macklin were among the replacements.

London Scottish went down to a 22-21 defeat against Nottingham in Sunday’s other Championship fixture, with former Stade Français out-half/fullback Peter Lydon kicking all 21 of their points from penalties.

Former Ireland international Neil Best was at blindside flanker for London Scottish, while ex-Ireland U20 prop Conor Carey started the game at tighthead prop for the victorious Nottingham.

Clermont back on top in France after comprehensive win over ToulouseMy sporting wish for 2015: A fully-fit Ireland heading to RWC

Sexton’s brother makes Premiership debut while Rowley scores first try

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