By kath
June 20 2012

England had to restore some pride in this midweek game and they certainly accomplished that with Nick Abendanon scoring a first-half hat-trick. 

SA Northern Baa Baas 31  v  57 England Midweek Side

Profert Olen Park - Tuesday 19th June 2012

Match Viewpoints

Nick Abendanon - All pictures Empics

Although the SA Baa Baas scored the first try,  England ran in eight tries themselves to claim a hard-fought win. and could perhaps have actually won this match but  it was not to be.  However, they were given a tough workout by the SA Baa Baas.

The game was sadly marred by a serious-looking injury to wing Ugo Monye, his head caught the hip of Steyn, who was attempting to pass, and appeared to be unconscious before he hit the ground.  

Update on Monye:

Jonny May came on for Ugo Monye and what a superb exciting find this young man is, May made the most of his luck and  touched down twice for England.  Other try scorers were Ben Morgan and Anthony Allen while they also benefited from a penalty try and Charlie Hodgson scored 17 points.

England & Gloucester's Jonny May

All in all a good day at the office for the England midweek side and let us hope they can carry some of this luck forward into the final Test on Saturday.  Abendanon was my MOM closely followed by newcomer Jonny May.

Scoring Stats:

Northern Barbarians 31 Tries: Joubert Englebrecht, Shaun Venter (2), Deon Scholtz. Conversions: JC Roos (4). Penalty: Roos
England 57 Tries: Nick Abendanon (3), Ben Morgan, Jonny May (2), Anthony Allen, penalty try. Conversions: Charlie Hodgson (7). Penalty: Hodgson