Red ease to victory after China crisis

WARWICK China Red grabbed their first victory of the season after a late arrival at Harris School almost saw the game awarded to home side Rugby Rage.

Only one car-load of their squad had managed to get to the venue when match officials were due to throw the ball up for the tip-off. Eventually they managed to get players on court and the game started fifteen minutes late.

All at sea in the opening quarter, China Red then settled into their stride and took a 26-25 lead into the half-time break. Warwick then broke away to lead by seven, but Rage, led by Guntars Trabliks fought back to level once more as the final countdown began.

But the visitors put in a controlled showing and Rugby picked up fouls as the young Warwick team eased to a first success with a 55-51 win.

Tamworth Tigers came oh so close to causing a major upset as they took unbeaten leagueleaders Arden Griffins to overtime before capitulating 72-68.

There were no such dramas as Tile Hill Trojans 1 walloped a depleted Aylesford Hawks side 82-36 after a first half Hawks will want to forget. They were 40-13 adrift at the break but, as Trojans eased Hawks managed to get more balls through the home hoop to bring their total up. Scott Owen led Trojans home with 23 points as Joel de Lara Bond replied with 14 for the beleaguered Hawks.

Trojans 2 did not fare so well in their trip to Leamington where they went down 59-51 to an enthusiastic Spartans side who produced a devastating second quarter which brought just three points to the visitors and cost them the match.

Quarter three was a reversal for Trojans who almost drew level at 44-40, but when Spartans opened the ultimate period 8-0 it was all over.

Trojans 3 saw off Spartans 2 at Hereward College in a foulridden game in which two of the visitors were fouled out and another sent off. Nuneaton Predators are still on their winning run. They took on and beat Team Rebels 52-45 and Coventry Tornadoes just edged out Ernesford Eagles to keep their 100 per cent run going.

MICK McCarthy has given his support to England manager Gareth Southgate in his handling of the bust-up between Raheem Sterling and Joe Gomez.

Manchester City’s Sterling will play no part in his country’s Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro because of a clash with Liverpool defender Gomez after the pair reported for international duty following a heated exchange during Sunday’s Premier League clash between the two clubs.

Southgate later likened the dispute to a “family row” with the two men having since sorted out their differences and while not knowing the exact details, Republic of Ireland counterpart McCarthy backed his response.

He said: “I actually don’t know what has happened, exactly. Gareth has dealt with it, he is the best person to do that, and he’s done brilliantly so far. I’d have to support everything he does.”

McCarthy famously clashed with then Ireland skipper Roy