Armitage departs as Irish romp

Delon Armitage gave England an injury scare after being helped off in London Irish's emphatic 40-10 Guinness Premiership victory over Gloucester, leaving the pitch clutching his left wrist after an hour.

With Toby Flood, Riki Flutey and Mike Tindall already in the treatment room, England manager Martin Johnson can ill afford any further injuries to his back line.

The full-back's departure took the shine off an otherwise excellent afternoon for Irish, who recorded their first win of the new league campaign as Ryan Lamb took revenge on former club Gloucester by masterminding the outcome and claiming a 20-point haul for the man-of-the-match award.

Winger Sailosi Tagicakibau ran in two tries and Armitage also touched down, while referee Dean Richards awarded a late penalty try.

Newcastle had to settle for a second successive draw at the start of the new Guinness Premiership season as two late Lee Thomas penalties earned Sale 16-16 share of the spoils on a blustery day at Kingston Park.

The 25-year-old kicked three penalties in total and converted Mark Cueto's fantastic try, which he helped to create with a beautifully placed chip.

Fly-half Jimmy Gopperth kicked 11 points for the hosts, although he also missed two kickable penalties, while centre Rob Vickerman scored his first try for the Falcons after Sharks flanker Neil Briggs knocked the ball into his hands as he attempted to ground the ball behind his own try line.