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February 23, 2008
France Students 45 England 9
France took revenge for last season’s double defeat against England Students by running in seven tries against the visitors at Tournon-sur-Rhone.
There were plenty of bright spots for England, who dominated the opening quarter and only trailed 19-9 at the break.
But despite an impressive debut from Hartpury flanker Andries Pretorius – and a polished performance from Leeds Met fly half Richard Vasey – they were hit by four second half tries that ended the contest.
Vasey, who joins Rotherham on loan from Leeds Carnegie this week, kicked three first half penalties to keep his side in the game.
Prop Julien Facundo, flanker Frederic Medevs and full back Jean-Matthieu Elcalde all touched down before the break, though, and England were forced to reorganise after losing Leeds full back Peter Wackett (ankle) and Hartpury wing Tom Jarvis (shoulder) to injuries.
And two tries in quick succession immediately after the restart from blind-side Loic Bernard and scrum half Arnaud Bic hauled France 33-9 clear.
Replacement centre Julien Sentermac and number eight Aurelien Diotallevi added two more in the closing stages with experienced fly half Fabien Gengenbacher contributing five conversions.
England Students: Peter Wackett (Leeds); Tom Jarvis (Hartpury College), Giles Pryor (Loughborough), Tom Gregory (Oxford), Scott Armstrong (Leeds Metropolitan); Richard Vasey (Leeds Metropolitan), Toby Henry (Oxford); Kevin Davis (Oxford), Jonathon Moyce (St Marys College), Aaron Liffchak (Hertfordshire), Ian Kench (Loughborough, capt), Simon Pitfield (Loughborough), Andries Pretorius (Hartpury College), Tom Malaney (Cambridge), James Lumby (Cambridge).
Replacements: Joe Clark (Cambridge), Joe Horn-Smith (Exeter), Peter Browne (Durham), Michael Denbee (Plymouth), Dominic Shaw (Newcastle), Tristan Roberts (Hartpury College), Phillip Ellis (Hertfordshire).
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