Bay get National Trophy reprieve

Dominic Shabbo is on loan from London Irish

Mounts Bay have been re-instated into the National Trophy after opponents Esher fielded an ineligible player.

Esher beat Bay 43-5 at the Mennaye last Saturday but late replacement Dominic Shabbo was ineligible.

On-loan winger Shabbo made two starts for parent club London Irish in the Anglo-Welsh Cup last October, cup-tieing him for the rest of the season.

Esher plan to appeal the decision but as it stands Mounts Bay will face London Scottish in round five.

Esher claimed Shabbo's appearance did not affect the outcome of the match as they were already 33-0 up when he come on.

"His appearance had no impact whatsoever on the result and we are immensely disappointed that the RFU took no account of that in their ruling," said Esher's chairman of rugby John Inverdale.

"It is an absurd situation when players can play in the Heineken Cup and also the National Trophy but not the Anglo-Welsh competition and the National Trophy."

He added that the club had launched an inquiry into how the error occurred and would discuss grounds for an appeal.

As it stands Mounts Bay will host National Three South side London Scottish at the Mennaye on Saturday, 7 February.