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This week: - BEN RYAN, Newbury rugby coach
- STUART SEARLE, Basingstoke Town goalkeeper
- MIKE PELL, Slough ladies' hockey coach
- and GARY JOHNSON, general manager at Reading Rockets
London Irish stormed back to form with an emphatic 40-5 victory over Northampton at the Madejski Stadium on Sunday, scoring five tries in the process. BBC Radio Berkshire commentator Graham McKechnie's analysis: "You could feel the collective sigh of relief as London Irish finally played some rugby." "Northampton didn't offer a great deal but it was the manner in which Irish played which really caught the eye. "It was very professional too. You rather feared the game might peter out but they kept going, we had a Topsy Ojo try at the end. "It was the older players who took control of the game. Last season we got used to the young guns flying round the pitch scoring tries, but the more experienced heads ran the game. Mike Catt played superbly at centre." Graham's view on Andy Robinson's role as England coach: "The problem is he's still no nearer knowing what team it is he wants to pick, and he's two and a half years into the job. It's time enough for him to go. "It requires one more dignified step - to resign. Where they move on to, that I don't know. It seems very, very early for Martin Johnson to come in."
Newbury struggled in Sunday's abysmal conditions and could only muster up one try in a 22-5 defeat at home to Doncaster in National League 1. "It was one of those games where one or two small errors made the difference," Newbury coach Ben Ryan told Sportsweek. "We changed our kit twice and if we'd had chance we'd have gone through a third set. It was muddy and soft under foot. The officials kept the game going, which was great, but you couldn't play any rugby in it. "Doncaster scored their tries through an interception, two catch-and-drives and a short plough over from two metres. At least our try was well conceived with a lovely execution, but it was a hard day at the office." While our reporter Graham McKechnie thinks the time has come for Andy Robinson to step down as England coach, Ben Ryan spoke up in Robinson's defence. "I think Andy's been a bit of a media scapegoat and you couldn't blame all of England's recent frailties on him. "But the game's becoming more cut-throat and it sounds as though Andy's finished his tenure, which is sad in many ways."
Basingstoke Town won their FA Trophy tie against Bedford 2-0 at the weekend, a good result as the Dragons build up to their historic FA Cup 2nd round tie at Aldershot. Stuart Searle, the goalkeeper whose heroics took Basingstoke through their FA Cup penalty shoot-out against Worcester, spoke to Sportsweek. Basingstoke have lost Ben Wells and David Stroud, who have been recalled from loan at Swindon, and Searle says it's a shame to be missing the pair. "They were just starting to play well and they were exceptional up at Chesterfield, and we've missed them. We've got to work around that and move on." The keeper says Basingstoke's poor form in the league isn't a reflection on performances. "I don't think we've been playing badly. We've not been getting the rub of the green but we're on a good run. The Hampshire Cup was our only defeat in 12, it's just a shame we can't transfer some draws into victories. "We've switched off and conceded goals, and not taken our chances up front. We need to start scoring more goals from all areas of the pitch." Focusing on the approaching FA Cup tie, Searle says the side are upbeat despite the disappointing league campaign. "To make it to the first round proper was certainly a highlight of my career, and if we get any further that'll be something nice to look back on. "We've got a good team spirit, morale is good, we go into every game trying to win it." So who does he want to face in the third round if the Dragons of Basingstoke beat the Dragons of Aldershot? "I'd like to say one of the big boys - with the links I've got at the club I'd say Chelsea, but I'm not so sure the nerves would take that too much. "You're pretty much guaranteed to pull out a big club. Any game we get in the draw now is going to be a big game."
In hockey, Slough's ladies held onto their place at the top of the Women's Premier Division with a 3-3 draw at home to Bowdon Hightown. But it took a last-gasp Alex Danson equaliser to rescue the game, played out in stormy weather. Slough coach Mike Pell admitted his disappointment to Sportsweek. "I'm relieved we managed to get a point, but we should have done better. "We like a fast surface and because of the amount of water that fell, the first half played a bit slowly, which didn't play into our hands. "I was frustrated that we allowed two easy chances in the first half to let them take the lead." Mike also told Sportsweek the club's difficulties in attracting a main sponsor have yet to be resolved. "We've managed to get a few small sponsors but we're probably the only club who still don't have sponsors across our shirts." "Most clubs have inroads into companies and marketing, but at Slough we don't seem to - we've been trying to do it ourselves but it's quite difficult to attract sponsors to hockey. "It costs us about £8,000 per year to play - in our team we've got four GB players expected to give up a lot of time to training. It's pretty tough to start charging them to play for the club."
Reading Rockets are through to the semi finals of basketball's National Cup with a 78-50 win over lower-division Bristol. The Rockets' general manager Gary Johnson said his side's class showed, but paid tribute to Bristol. "They were a good side and came very well prepared, plus we had a lot of injuries, so a lot of our juniors had a lot of court time today, which is great for them. "The pressure's on you when you're the senior club playing someone from a lower division. They were the only club from Division 2 to reach the quarter finals and they played very well." Sportsweek also received a fierce denial from Johnson over a tapping-up scandal involving Worthing Thunder's Steve Vear. Worthing say Steve Vear has demanded a transfer of his licence to Reading Rockets having agreed a deal with the Rockets before notifying Worthing - contrary to a clause in his contract. "I clearly, absolutely refute any allegations or insinuations. "This is being investigated by the sport's national governing body, England Basketball, with whom we're co-operating fully. "Steve is a great lad - he's a Worthing player and that's it, as far as I understand. "I don't know what Steve has or hasn't done. I honestly don't know." Sportsweek needs you to let us know what we're missing. If you've got a story or want to see more coverage of your favourite sport, get in touch using the Have Your Say form below. We look forward to hearing from you. | 
