Top poacher Varndell man of the month
BRISTOL’S Tom Varndell was judged to have made the biggest impact in the league last month earning him the Premiership Player of the Month award for December. Former England centre Will Greenwood said: “The lad is flying again and his contribution to Jason Woodward’s try at Northampton reinforces his outstanding skills from December. “If Bristol are to escape then their master poacher needs to bag try after try and it looks like his nose for the try-line is sniffing on full power. “Tom is an absolutely lethal finisher. Control and awareness of his speed and power makes him so difficult to stop.” Varndell has now scored 89 Premiership Rugby tries in his career, equal with record-holder Mark Cueto. Varndell was involved in a three-way battle for this month’s title, eventually beating his team-mate Woodward and Wasps back-rower Thomas Young to the big prize.