Weekend Review - McDonald features for Germany as they are defeated by Spain

Scrum-Half LCpl Mikey McDonald (RE) played most of the final quarter as a replacement for Germany in their Rugby Europe Championship game in Spain, but was unable to prevent his side losing 27-5.

The visitors were 15-0 down just after the hour-mark, Martiniano Cian Garcia and Martin Inaki Mateu Spuches crossing the whitewash as Eduardo Guemes landed a conversion and penalty.

Germany got on the board thanks to a try from hooker Mika Tyumenev, but second-half scores from Estanislao Ramiro Bay and John Wessel Bell sealed the win for the Spaniards, Gonzalo Lopez Bontempo converting the latter with the final kick.

In domestic action, LCpl Pita Ratukadreu (REME) came close to scoring a late consolation for Plymouth Albion, but they suffered a third consecutive National One defeat with a 31-3 setback at resurgent Sale.

Mark Dixon touched down inside 60 seconds for the Dogs, Tom Curtis with the extras, before Tom Putt got Plymouth on the board with a penalty.

Albion had the better of much of the first half, but unable to add to their tally, they fell further behind just before the break via a converted Nathan Langdon effort.

Sale put the game to bed before the hour mark as Tom Walsh and Josh Brown went over to seal the bonus-point, and after adding to both, Curtis landed a penalty to complete a fine win.

Words © Richard Ashton

All images – Alligin Photography © Neil Kennedy