Banahan’s big impact

JERSEY colossus, 6ft 7in Bath winger Matt Banahan scored a hat-trick to help England Saxons to a 64-10 victory over the USA in the opening round of the Barclays Churchill Cup in Ottawa on Saturday.

Despite playing in temperatures of over 30 degrees Saxons ran in nine tries with Banahan, playing his first game for the England B-team, scoring the first two in the first half before setting up lock forward George Skivington to charge over in the 40th minute.

Fly-half Ryan Lamb’s faultless first half kicking display gave the Saxons a deserved 24-7 lead going in to the break before the Eagles, who only lost to the full England XV in the opening round of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, 28-10, were completely outplayed in the second half.

However, for the first 20 minutes of the 80 the Eagles matched the Saxons up front and, following a penalty and Banahan’s try when he powered through three players to touch down from ten yards out, came back into the game follow an intercept try by wing Gavin DeBartolo.

Article posted on 9th June, 2008 - 3.00pm

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