THERE'S really only one way to start this week's column and that is to congratulate England side on their excellent 44-8 pummelling of France at Twickenham last Sunday and, in particular, Jonny May.

The man-of-the-match spared no mercy on the visitors, running in a top-class, first-half hat-trick to help build a 30-8 interval lead and to ensure his teammates their second successive victory in this season's RBS Six Nations Championship.

Next up for England are Wales in Cardiff on Saturday week and, like the rest of you England fans out there, I can't wait.

Well done to Wales who, perhaps, not surprisingly, chalked up their 11th successive win with a 26-15 defeat of Italy in Rome.

Dan Biggar's four penalties before half-time saw them 12-7 ahead at the break, while tries from Josh Adams and Owen Watkin eased them to victory in the second half.

There was a good win too for Ireland, who got the better of hosts Scotland at Murrayfield 22-13.

The only time they were behind was after just five minutes play when Greg Laidlaw's penalty opened the scoring for Scotland to lead 3-0.

But tries from Conor Murray and Jacob Stockdale had the visitors 12-10 ahead at half-time, while a further Keith Earls try and a Joey Carberry penalty settled a comfortable victory.

The Six Nations takes a break this weekend, allowing our local sides to take the spotlight.

Last week was one for Rams to put to the back of their minds as their 17-match unbeaten National Two South run was finally halted 25-19 at Tonbridge Juddians.

They are still comfortably 12 points ahead of the rest of the table, and hopefully clear their minds this Saturday and take it out on 11th-placed Old Bath Road visitors Old Redcliffians.

My boys Reading won 22-16 at Wallingford in their Southern Counties North match, moving them up to eighth in the table.

This was a good win which gave us the double over a team which have been higher than us in the league throughout the season, and on the basis of this performance we can look forward with confidence to this weekend against fifth place Aylesbury at home.

Hopefully we should have some good support to help from the sidelines as it's past players day.

If the team can now stay injury free we could have a very good run to the end of the season.

Elsewhere Reading Abbey chalked up a fine 24-12 win at Stow-on-the-Wold ahead of their home game against Wallingford, while Berkshire Shire Hall return to BB&O Championship action following a three-week break when they visit Phoenix on Saturday.