London Irish's Allinson still hunting for silverware

James Walker-Roberts • Published 27 Jan 2012 08:30 0 Comments

See also:

London Irish star hopes for LV=Cup success

LONDON Irish's Darren Allinson hopes his side can use their disappointing Heineken Cup campaign to spur them on to success in the LV= Cup this year.

After qualifying for Europe's elite competition on the final day of last season, hopes were high that Exiles could escape from a pool containing three less fancied sides - Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues and Racing Metro.

But it was not to be, and Toby Booth's men instead ended their six-match campaign with just a single win in Paris to show for their efforts, leaving them bottom of Pool Two.

"It was all very disappointing," Allinson told the News. "It was a competition that we wanted to do well in and we didn't manage to do that.

"A lot of people looked at our young squad and thought that this year would be a learning experience, and while we have all learned from it, we really thought that we could do well in the Heineken Cup so it's disappointing that we are out."

Rather than dwell on the 34-11 defeat to Edinburgh and all that went before it, though, Allinson is keen for his side to show they are made of sterner stuff.

The Carmarthen-born scrum-half is especially looking forward to his side's next encounter as it marks a return to the club where he started his career - Scarlets.

Allinson, 24, came through the Scarlets Academy before joining Cardiff Blues at start of 2006/7 season and then crossing the border to move to Irish in 2010.

Yet while he admits he is still grateful to Scarlets, he insists there will not be a case of split-loyalties at the Parc y Scarlets on Saturday evening (6.30pm ko)

"We're really targeting this game as one that we want to win and we are going to put out our strongest side to do that," he said.

"This week in training has been a very hard one to build up the game and we want to go out there and give it our best.

"After the disappointment of the Heineken Cup we really want to win the LV= Cup, it will be some consolation if we can do that."

Irish currently sit top of Pool Two with one win and one loss to their name while Scarlets have won both of their matches in Pool Three.

"We know that Scarlets are an exciting side who always do well in this competition and they play an exciting brand of rugby, if we play to our ability then it should be a very exciting game," added Allinson.

"I don't get to go home much because of the amount of work we have to do so it will be nice to go back and to play against a Welsh side. I've watched them on television and I know that they are a good team who like to play decent rugby."

Scarlets will be without nine players on international duty for the clash while England commitments deprive Irish of Alex Corbisiero, Delon Armitage, Matt Garvey and Paul Hodgson.

Exiles are hopeful, though, of welcoming back the injured trio of Marlande Yarde, Dan Bowden and Sailosi Tagicakibau.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 27 Jan 12

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle