Brookes could be out for the season with ankle injury

WASPS prop Kieran Brookes’ season could be over after suffering a “significant” injury against Bath.

The 28-year-old lasted just 16 minutes after coming off the bench as a second-half substitute in the Ricoh Arena encounter.

Gas and air were required to stabilise the former Northampton Saints, Leicester Tigers and Newcastle Falcons forward before he was stretchered from the field of play.

Director of rugby Dai Young, speaking after his side’s 24-14 Gallagher Premiership defeat, confirmed that the 16-times capped England international is set to be missing from action for a prolonged period.

“It’s definitely a significant ankle injury,” said the Welshman. “He’s sitting up and talking but it’s obviously a significant ankle injury so he’s on his way to get it looked at.”

Jake Cooper-Woolley was forced into returning to the field of play and will now be tasked with filling the No.3 shirt along with Will Stuart.

Wasps saw Dan Robson return from an ankle injury as a second-half substitute and Young confirmed that Joe Launchbury should be fit enough to tackle Harlequins at Twickenham on Saturday.

“Launchers is on track for next weekend,” said Young. “It’s great to see Dan Robson and Nathan Hughes back out there. I’m sure they’ll figure next weekend.

“It’s nice to see people back. Hopefully we can keep them on the field and get some continuity moving forward.” PORTSMOUTH’S lead at the top of League One was cut to one point after goals at the end of each half gave Gillingham a 2-0 upset victory at Priestfield.

Elliott List’s long ball into the area was powerfully headed home by Josh Parker on the stroke of half-time before Callum Reilly’s penalty late on settled matters.

Reilly fired his spot-kick beyond Craig MacGillivray after Jack Whatmough had clumsily fouled List in the area as the Gills completed a surprise double over Pompey this season.

The win takes Gillingham seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Pompey’s third league defeat of the season, meanwhile, leaves them looking over their shoulder after Luton closed the gap as they saw off lowly Scunthorpe 2-0.

The Hatters took a 37th-minute lead when James Justin cut back to the edge of the box, allowing Andrew Shinnie to curl beyond Jak Alnwick.

The Scunthorpe goalkeeper was equal to Elliot Lee’s bending effort five minutes after halftime but Harry Cornick scored on the rebound as the Iron suffered their sixth successive league defeat to slump to second bottom.

Sunderland remain four points adrift of Luton in third after edging out Bradford 1-0 at the Stadium of Light. Aiden McGeady powered home just after the half hour as the Bantams slipped into the drop zone following Bristol Rovers’ 3-1 victory at Walsall.

Goals inside the first ten minutes from Tom Lockyer and Alex Rodman put the Pirates in control and though Josh Gordon halved the deficit just before the break, Tareiq HolmesDennis restored the two-goal cushion in the 52nd minute.

Barnsley leapfrogged Peterborough and into fifth after a 2-0 victory over Posh at Oakwell.

AFC Wimbledon moved off the foot of the table after coming from a goal down to defeat fellow strugglers Plymouth 2-1.

Burton also came from behind to inflict a 3-1 defeat on Wycombe.

Accrington won 2-1 over Shrewsbury, while Rochdale beat Blackpool by the same score.

Fleetwood thumped play-off rivals Doncaster 3-0, while Southend won 1-0 at Oxford.