HAVING heard all about the Tigers' magnificent fightback against Quins, and fearing the same this Saturday, Exeter made an audacious offer to Sedgley right wing Jon Feeley to turn full-time with them.

However, the flying Yorkshireman turned them down flat, preferring to stay at Park Lane.

It's not the first time one of the National Division One South West triumvirate have targeted a Tiger.

Last season's leading try scorer, Richard Welding joined the Cornish Pirates at the end of the campaign.

l TWO former Sedgley youngsters were named in the England Under 19s side for the warm-up match against Leeds Academy, in preparation for the international against Australia on December 2.

Hooker Jordan Page, now with Leeds Tykes, and tight-head prop Jack Forster, now with Gloucester, were in the England 22 for the game.

After their Six Nations, England U19s face Ireland, Argentina and last years winners South Africa in the pool rounds of the IRB U19 World Championship in Dubai on April 5, 9 and 13, with semi finals and final on April 17 and 21 respectively.

l THE famous Whitefield welcome was in full flow on Tuesday, which turned into something of an Antipodean Day!

During the daylight hours the Australian rugby league team descended on Park Lane again to make full use of the training facilities, in preparation for Saturday's Tri-Nations clash against Great Britain at Hulls KC Stadium.

Then, in the evening it was the turn of over 100 All Blacks fans, who decided to stop off on their journey from Dublin where they saw virtually a New Zealand second string beat Ireland 45-7 to Twickenham, to watch their team face England on Saturday, for a spot of northern hospitality. They also had a chance to meet up with the first team after training for a bit of a rugger chit-chat. No doubt Tigers Kiwi Number 8 Sam Anania was Mr Popular!

l One of the clubs youngest teams, the Under 9s, are on the lookout for new players. The boys and girls train on Wednesday evenings and play on Sunday mornings. Contact coach Mick Kelly on 0161 653 4735, or 07801 551184, for more information.

l Assistant coach Andy Northey gave a typically honest appraisal of the Tigers second performance against Quins.

The lads were disappointed they didnt win! he said.

The key to it was the psychological reaction to the previous game against; it was much easier for us than them. For them to come up here, beat us comfortably then go back down to London, train and return back up here, it was very difficult.

It was a lot easier for us to gain motivation, having suffered that defeat. Although when they were 12-0 up early in the game, I did think, Eh up, here we go again.

But the lads showed great character and if our execution had been a bit sharper we could have come away with a win.

What we sometimes lack is self belief, but as the game progressed you could see we were growing in confidence, we now have to carry it into other games.

The front five did well winning set piece ball but we have to continue to improve that area of our game.

We now have two wins, a draw, and a bonus point against Harlequins; we are in much better shape than we were at this stage last season, now we have to go down to Exeter and believe we can win there.