Rugby Union: Quins win to stay up

GOING over and out were two great back-rowers. Wayne Shelford and Peter Winterbottom made try-scoring Courage League farewells to their home grounds, writes Huw Richards.

Harlequins' First Division survival was sealed by two Winterbottom tries in the 35-14 defeat of relegated Rugby while Shelford's pushover effort was one of seven Northampton scored before half- time as a 55-9 defeat sent West Hartlepool back into the Second.

Also down are London Scottish and Saracens, whose defeat by a single point at London Irish after trailing 10-0 at half-time was in keeping with their ill-fortune this season. Irish scored the only try through Gary Halpin.

Waterloo's season, once so promising, looks in ruins after a 14-9 defeat at Nottingham. Chris Gray, like Halpin a Five Nations discard, scored the decisive try as Nottingham clawed back a 6-9 half-time deficit. Newcastle Gosforth are set for promotion after beating Bedford 19-13 with 14 points from the boot of David Johnson. Rosslyn Park are relegated to the Third after losing 20- 15 at Wakefield while Havant need a point to replace them after Otley's 16-11 loss at Exeter.

Swansea took the Swalec Welsh Cup's cross-city derby, winning 13- 0 at Third Division Bonymaen. Stuart Davies, another international reject, scored the only try. Second-half tries from Withers and Marshall confirmed Cross Keys' fighting spirit as they went down 24-15 at Neath while Bridgend ended East Wales interest by scraping past Newport 18-16.