Looking at our last three games as a group it is fair to say that if you had offered us eight points from away games against Sale, Gloucester and Newcastle we would have said thank you very much. In truth our performances against Sale and Gloucester were probably more deserving of the winners spoils than that against Newcastle, who at times played some fantastic rugby against us, certainly the best we have ever seen them play.

However, there have been enough games where we have not got what we deserved based on our performance so I am sure you can understand that we were more than happy to accept the five points which has kept us in a group of four teams on 36 points in the Zurich Premiership, and just four points behind Northampton in third position.

We won last weekend's game because of our ability to take the chances that were offered to us, and because of the dogged determination of Andre Vos and the rest of his team to refuse to be beaten even after Dave Walders drop goal deep into injury time. You can say what you like about this team, but you could never question their commitment and determination to fight for the cause; they just do not know when they are beaten and that can take a team a very long way.

It would also be right to congratulate referee Chris White on a very fine performance which helped hugely towards making the game such a spectacle.

Following on from last weekend's game Andy Dunne had an X-ray on his elbow which showed that there was no fracture, although the swelling will keep him out of action this weekend in Montauban but he should be fit for the second leg of our game against Montauban.

On Tuesday afternoon we attended the RFU disciplinary hearing following Jim Evans sending off after his altercation with Gloucester hooker Chris Fortey. It was a very fair hearing and Jim was suspended for seven days which means that he will miss this weekend game.

With Paul Burke returning to the number ten shirt this Saturday, our injury list gets in shorter. Simon Miall continues to progress very well and at the moment he hopes to return to full training in February with the possibility that he could be playing again in early March. Josh Taumalolo is still struggling with a back injury but is working very hard with Cameron Steele and Paul Pook and hopes to be available for action soon.

The Second XV take on Bath on Monday evening at The Recreation Ground in the third of our 2nd XV League games, and the following Monday they play London Irish at The Stoop; KO 7.30pm.

This weekend we return to the Parker Pen Challenge Cup and face French side Montauban in what is sure to be a very intimidating atmosphere at Stade Sapiac in Montauban. We want to win the Parker Pen Challenge Cup so Saturday's game is hugely important to us, as we look to build a base to move into the Quarter Finals after the return leg at The Stop next weekend.

I know that a number of you are travelling out to France to support the team, and we are all looking forward to seeing you on Saturday evening.

Let's hope we can continue to build on the performances of the last three weeks.