LONDON & SE

PUSHING THE BOAT OUT Will Knight, the Havant coach, thanked his club for a “great experience” after they sanctioned an overnight stay ahead of their London Premier match at North Walsham.

Hav lost 21-12 but Knight said: “The club really looked after the players. It was a bit of reward for the effort they’ve put in. Every aspect of the weekend was positive apart from the result.”

LUNCH DELIVERY Portsmouth paid tribute to former skipper Steve Todd on the day they beat Old Georgians 33-17. The game was preceded by a memorial lunch in honour of Todd, who captained the club during their rise to London One in the mid-1990s.

Two South-West Winchester also held a lunch that raised over £1,000 for the Victim Support charity before their 18-12 win over Eastleigh. Eighty guests were treated to the piping in of the haggis. BIRTHDAY GIFT Gosport & Fareham full-back Ben Smith marked his 20th birthday with two tries in the 42-0 win over Eastleigh II. Gos coach Mark

Pollard has been impressed by Smith all season and said: “The joy on his face when he scored was absolutely brilliant.”

There was a family double for Trojans flanker Fraser Moncrieffe when he played his 100th first XV game in the 27-19 defeat by Alton. His father Chris was also an appearance centurion.

SO PROUD Hove celebrated landmark achievements for three young players. Hooker Tom Doughty had his first Premiership start for Bath, fly-half Morgan Adderly-Jones made his debut for Gloucester and Harry

Browne was at lock for Harlequins

U18 against London Irish.

SMART ALEX Three South-West club Petersfield believe Vicky Alexander is one of the few female head coaches in the men’s leagues and she put them firmly in the Three South-West title race.

The New Zealander played top-flight rugby with Wasps and Richmond, and said: “I wanted to coach at Petersfield because it’s my children’s club. I love the playing ethos and philosophy there.” SOUTHWOLD’S SAINT Southwold, of Two North-East, achieved a club ‘first’ when Will Lamprell was selected for the Northampton Saints U18 squad. He played mini rugby initially at the Suffolk club and has become a mobile prop with the ability to feature at No 8.

Southwold colts’ manager Bruce Colman said: “It’s great for our club to have someone reach this level.”

SPARK IN THE PARK Horsham were proud but frustrated as they lost a thriller 38-26 to London Welsh, the long-term leaders of One South, on their first visit to Old Deer Park. The West Sussex side were hit by injuries and yellow cards.

Head coach Nick Stocker said: “By all accounts we are the first team to have scored four tries on their home patch in the last five years. When we were in free flow, Welsh struggled to contain the threats we posed.”

STALWART SEAN Sean McLoughlin, the Harpenden DoR and prop, played his final match in the 59-14 home win against Norwich in One North.

In eight seasons with the club he made more than 150 appearances. To the crowd’s delight, McLoughlin even tried to convert his side’s penultimate try. It challenged neither the posts nor crossbar but what a player he has been.

DOUBLE ACT Cantabrigian, a Two North-East club, have a dual-purpose pair in Glen Remnant and Will Riggs.

The coaches completed a century of matches in the 45-13 win over Wanstead but that’s not all. Remnant doubles up as their secretary and Riggs has been responsible for the refurbishment at the Cambridge-based club over the last year.

London Premier Tunbridge Wells are equally proactive and have welcomed back Simon Jervis, a Level Four coach, as DoR to build a squad capable of pushing for a spot in National Two South.

CHEERS TO THAT Kent Two club Sittingbourne were grateful to the Spirit of Rugby Masonic Lodge for donating 48 bottles of beer to raise funds for the club. The lodge was founded six years ago by a group of 50 East Kent rugby enthusiasts.

RETIRED GRACEFULLY Brighton

Blues parted company with a weary survivor from their greatest days – and with no tears shed. With help from their 300 Club lunch raffle money and other funds, Brighton have invested in a Predator scrum machine. Spokesman Tudor Ellis said: “The previous scrum sledge has passed its useful life. We had acquired it when our 2009 EDF Junior Vase winning team was in action.”