Australia & New Zealand Exiles maintain winning run over South of England

• New-look South of England side unable to overcome strong ANZAC Exiles side
• Second-half improvements give cause for optimism ahead of games against Scotland Bravehearts and Wales ‘A’

 

The South of England Men’s Team 2026 programme began with a 22-12 loss to Australia & New Zealand Exiles in a game used as preparation for forthcoming representative fixtures against Scotland Bravehearts and Wales ‘A’.

Fielding an expanded 26-man squad to allow the coaching team to assess options and provide representative honours to a larger group of players, the South naturally took time to hit their stride. With over 50% of the South of England squad making their representative debut and players from 13 different community clubs featured, it was perhaps unsurprising that they struggled to find consistency in a first half which saw the sending off of Exiles hooker Jimmy Russell.

During a fiercely competitive and largely even first half, the South of England made a number of unforced errors, which were then compounded by a string of penalties awarded for infringements around the play-the-ball and in defence. In the second half, players from all four southern regions in the new-look squad began to gel, with greater consistency the result.

A much more positive and disciplined performance followed, giving Head Coach Jamie Jones selection dilemmas, areas to focus on and much optimism ahead of the games to come over the next three weeks.

On a bright and breezy afternoon at Twyford Avenue Sports Ground, Acton, home of Wests Warriors RLFC, the South of England started confidently. On their first full set of six, the South made significant progress down field following a scrum deep in their own half.

Following powerful carries, All Golds Leon Atherton (West of England region) catching the eye, loose forward Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws/Midlands) helped put full-back Jimmy Lambert (Coventry Bears/Midlands) through a gap in the Exiles defensive line. Bursting through it on an angle, Lambert sprinted away to cross in the corner. Scrum half Luke Drummond (Elmbridge Eagles/London) nailed the conversion from the touchline to put the visitors six-points up.

The Exiles responded to this setback positively, taking advantage of a South error deep in their own territory to set up the position for centre Joel Strasser to cross in the left corner. Stand-off Benj McKay’s attempted conversion drifted wide.

10 minutes later the Exiles hit the lead for the first time following back-to-back sets gifted through a knock-on and a penalty for an infringement at the play-the-ball. This time loose forward Dylan Leney crashed over from short range wide on the left, with McKay once again missing the tricky conversion attempt.

On their next attacking set in South territory, the Exiles looked certain to extend their lead but somehow managed to drop the ball with the line begging. With players coming together after the incident, the match officials were forced to stop the clock to work out the best course of action. After much deliberation, Exiles hooker Jimmy Russell was sent off for his role in the confrontation.

A period of scrappy play followed as both sides worked hard to try and gain the upper hand. Eventually it was the Exiles who found a decisive play, centre Tamati Gribble touching down wide on the right for an unconverted try late in the first half.

The South of England came out for the second half with the bit between their teeth and just six points separating the sides. Yet within 15 minutes of the restart the Exiles had extended their lead to 16 points.

During an attacking set deep in South territory nine minutes into the half, the Exiles worked the ball right to winger George Brown, who delivered an exceptional one-handed finish. McKay once again missed the touchline conversion only to be presented with a far easier opportunity six minutes later.

This time, prop forward Lachlan Crossle – whose brother Tom scored in the same fixture a year earlier – powered over from close range following some tired South defending. McKay converted this time to leave the Exiles 22-6 up with 25 mins remaining.

The South improved offensively and defensively in the remainder of the game, completing more sets while asking more questions of their hosts. Bedford Tigers forward Max Nissinen-Li (East) thought he had reduced the arrears after forcing his way over from close range, only for the try to be disallowed for leading with the elbow.

More pressure followed, with the South ultimately making possession count with six minutes left on the clock. Will Armour (London) broke through the line midway through an attacking set, with the London Chargers second-rower letting out a roar of celebration as he touched down to the left of the posts. Drummond again converted, narrowing the gap and offering the South hope of a dramatic late comeback.

The Exiles held on for the win, but the South of England’s improvement – built on higher completion and improved structure in attack – hints at greater things to come from the team in the weeks ahead.

 

MATCH FACTS

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND EXILES 22

T: Joel Strasser (12 mins), Dylan Leney (23 mins), Tamati Gribble (30 mins), George Brown (49 mins), Lachlan Crossle (54 mins)

G: Benji McKay 1 (from 5)

SENDING OFF: Jimmy Russell (28 mins)

 

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MEN’S TEAM 12

T: Jimmy Lambert (3 mins), Will Armour (74 mins)

G: Luke Drummond 2 (from 2)

 

Player of the Match Awards

EXILES: Jack Ryan (Scrum Half, Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

SOUTH: Dom Stock (Prop Forward, Wests Warriors)

 

Match Officials

Peter Parker, Chris Lawson, Cameron Gray

 

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND EXILES

1. Joel Strasser (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

2. James Duchatel (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

3. Tamati Gribble (vice-captain, Wests Warriors)

4. Benji McKay (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

5. George Brown (London Chargers)

6. Tyler Rush (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

7. Jack Ryan (captain, Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

8. Matt Jessop (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

9. Jimmy Russell (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

10. Lachlan Crossle (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

11. Thor Eastwood (Wests Warriors)

12. Josh Stevens (Lock Lane)

13. Dylan Leney (Wests Warriors)

 

Interchange:

14. John Burland (Wests Warriors)

15. Leo Ruggeri Falaniko (London Chargers)

16. Chris Kerkow (Eastern Rhinos)

17. Justin Dunnet (Wests Warriors)

18. Easton Pollard (London Chargers)

19. Callum Corey (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

20. Devante Waho (Wests Warriors)

 

SOUTH OF ENGLAND MEN’S TEAM

1. Jimmy Lambert (Coventry Bears)

2. Leighton Ball (Wests Warriors)

3. Leon Atherton (All Golds)

4. Ben Telfer (Brixton Bulls)

5. David Bofenda (North Herts Crusaders)

6. Eddie Atherton (North Hearts Crusaders)

7. Luke Drummond (Elmbridge Eagles)

8. Dom Stock (Wests Warriors)

9. Doug Chirnside (captain, London Chargers)

10. Max Nissinen-Li (Bedford Tigers)

11. Finn Holt (Sherwood Wolf Hunt)

12. Ben McGuinness (Brixton Bulls)

13. Coryn Ward (Nottingham Outlaws)

 

Interchange:

14. Paddy Tennant (Elmbridge Eagles)

15. Alex Deery (North Hearts Crusaders)

16. Charlie Whittington (London Chargers)

17. Ben Foskett (Telford Raiders)

18. Callum Dockerill (Bedford Tigers)

19. Brandon Swindles (Bedford Tigers)

20. Sean Belbin (Elmbridge Eagles)

21. Dylan Stone (Telford Raiders)

22. Harry Kaufman (Coventry Bears)

23. Jake Cummins (Elmbridge Eagles)

24. Leon Bird (Hammersmith Hill Hoists)

25. Will Armour (London Chargers)

26. Mason O’Neil (Medway Dragons)

 

By Matt Anniss