Rugby Union: Wales lose Lions pair

ROUND-UP

TWO Lions, Allan Bateman and David Young, have withdrawn from the Wales team to play Tonga in Swansea today because of muscular injuries. Bateman has been replaced at centre by Cardiff's Leigh Davies whose club- mate, Spencer John, comes in at tight-head prop for Young. Dafydd James, of Pontypridd, and Swansea's Chris Anthony take Davies and John's spots on the replacements' bench. Both Bateman and Young expect to be fit in time for Wales's international against New Zealand at Wembley in a fortnight.

On the first weekend of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Cup, which is being contested by 20 clubs from the Allied Dunbar Premiership, Bristol's woeful season, both on and off the field, took yet another turn for the worse when they lost 19-14 at home to second-division Waterloo, for whom Lyndon Griffiths kicked four penalties and a conversion.

Tim Rodber, hoping to be recalled by England at No 8 for next weekend's encounter with the All Blacks, scored one of Northampton's seven tries in their 43-10 win at Fylde where the Saints' lock forward Jon-Lee Phillips claimed two touchdowns.

Saihad Tcherderi, a 21-year-old French fly-half who joined Exeter a month ago, turned his side's 23-20 home success against struggling Orrell into a one-man show, helping himself to two tries, two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal.

Gloucester bounced back from their European Conference defeat at Stade- Francais with a 35-13 victory at West Hartlepool, in which Nick Osman ran in two of their five tries.

Meanwhile, West's 20-year-old former centre Liam Botham had a debut to remember with three tries in Cardiff 's 41-30 win at home to Swansea in the WRU Challenge Trophy.

London Welsh stay one point clear at the top of Jewson National League One following their 28-10 win at Lydney which included a hat-trick of tries from their wing Jamie Reynolds. Worcester stay second after beating Nottingham 27-0 and Rugby remain third on points difference despite their 36-10 defeat of Reading.

Caerphilly, 41-28 winners over Maesteg, head the Welsh National First Division by two points from Aberavon, who were held 10-10 at Pontypool.