Weekend Review - McDonald adds to International Caps with Germany

LCpl Mikey McDonald (26 Engr Regt) came off the bench for Germany as the hosts put in a heroic effort in a 28-17 Rugby Europe Championship loss to Georgia.

After conceding a 10^th-minute converted try, Germany hit the front just after the half-hour mark as fly-half Edoardo Stella first added to a Markus Bachofer score before slotting a penalty.

The visitors, though – 15-time champions and favourites for the competition – pulled clear as Luka Matkava converted tries from Ilia Spanderashvili, captain Merab Sharikadze and Mirian Modebadze.

LCpl McDonald entered proceedings on 62 minutes and Germany gave themselves a glimmer of hope shortly after, Nikolai Karl Klewinghaus touching down before Raynor Parkinson added the extras to ensure the hosts scored their highest number of points against Georgia.

However, their opponents held firm for victory on Sharikadze’s 100^th appearance – the centre a former teammate of Mikey’s at Hartpury College.

Rfn Vereimi Qorowale (2 Rifles) made a winning start to life with Doncaster Knights as they overcame the sending off of Joe Margetts to pick up a bonus-point 29-19 home win against Cambridge.

The wing replaced first-half try-scorer Jack Metcalf for the final 14 minutes of the game at Castle Park, his side having to play the final quarter a man down after Margetts’ red card.

Cambridge had earlier taken an early lead with a Jamie Benson try converted by Steffan James, only for Knights to hit back strongly through Billy McBride, Conor Davidson and Metcalf, two Russell Bennett conversions making it 19-7.

The visitors levelled swiftly, though, as Benson doubled his tally and Nahum Merigan touched down, James with another kick, before a converted Joe Bedlow try gave Doncaster a seven-point half-time lead.

Donny dominated the third quarter and wasted several scoring opportunities, but the red card left the lead in doubt before a Bennett penalty eventually put the game to bed.

The win lifted Knights to third in the table, moving above a Coventry side for whom Gnr Senitiki Nayalo (7 PARA RHA) played 50 minutes in a 26-22 reverse at Caldy.

Cov raced into a 12-0 lead with Obinna Nkwocha and Jordan Poole crossing the whitewash, Pat Pellegrini adding to the latter, but the home side got on the board with a Connor Wilkinson try.

Rhys Anstey grabbed Coventry’s third, Pellegrini again with the extras, but Matt Gallagher went over before Lewis Barker slotted the conversion for 19-12.

A Pellegrini penalty gave the visitors a 10-point lead, but the Gallagher-Barker duo combined twice more to snatch victory.

LCpl Pita Ratukadreu (REME) played the full 80 minutes as Plymouth Albion went down 19-12 at Leicester Lions in National One.

Penalties from Luke Bouchier and Dan Lewis nudged the hosts in front before Tom Putt converted a Gabe Mead try, Lions replying just before half-time with James Stubbs touching down and Lewis with the extras.

The fly-half landed two more penalties, and while Ramaz Rukhadze crossed for Plymouth with two minutes to play, it was only enough for a losing bonus-point.