COACH Tony Lanaway could take many positives from England Students' narrow 30-28 defeat at the hands of their French counterparts at Sedgley Park.

Lanaway switched things round at the interval which saw England trailing 16-0, mainly thanks to France full international David Skrela (Colomiers) who scored a try and two penalties in the opening period, and finished the game with 17 points in front of a packed Manchester crowd.

"We had a very good second half and nearly nicked it," said Lanaway. "Neil Clark (Exeter University) and Tom Hayman (Loughborough) were both in excellent form, but just a lack of experience at crucial times let the French in.

"We gifted them 14 points thanks to two interception tries and that proved too costly, but the game was a good advert for student rugby and we can take a few positives for next week's game in Swansea."

England fought back well in the second half after Ross Winney (St Mark and St John's University College) replaced Matt Honeyben (Oxford University) at fly half at the break, the latter having missed two kickable penalties.

No.8 Hayman burrowed over for the first try after 42 minutes, Winney converting, then Jo El Abd (Bath) went over from a line-out, Winney again converting.

Hayman then brought the scores to 23-21 with a superb opportunistic try, Winney again adding the two points.

But, as England pressed, France crossed for another converted try and, despite Adam Billig (Loughborough) getting on the end of a Winney bomb for a try, which Winney converted, despite a frantic last couple of minutes, England couldn't get the score.