Watts-Jones escapes serious injury

ALBION flanker Rory Watts-Jones has escaped serious injury after taking a severe blow to the face in Saturday's 13-13 draw against London Welsh.

Watts-Jones suffered the injury two minutes from time.

The game was not stopped and so Albion had to defend the dying minutes with 14 men.

And the home side could not hold out Welsh's intense pressure and conceded a try in the eighth-minute of injury-time, which robbed them of a vital win.

Watts-Jones was taken to hospital in an ambulance after the match, but was later discharged following X-rays.

"Rory went to hospital as it was suspected eye socket damage," said Albion's chairman of rugby Graham Dawe.

"But, fortunately, he has not broken anything."

Albion are still waiting on news of half-backs Ruairi Cushion and Kieran Hallett who were both forced out of Saturday's game after taking late hits as they kicked up field.

"Both Kieran and Ruairi have got dead legs. Kieran's is his thigh and Ruairi's is in his calf," said Dawe. "They will be getting intensive treatment this week."

It is likely both will be major doubts for Saturday's British & Irish Cup game against the Cornish Pirates at Brickfields.

ALBION scrum-half Tom Kessell scored a try as Devon got their Under-20 County Championship campaign off to a winning start against Somerset.

Devon won 21-8 with Kessell scoring their final try.

As well as Kessell, fellow Albion youngsters Paul Creek and Chey Bryce started for the county, with Rupert Freestone and Alex Jeffery among the replacements.

Devon's next round match will be against last year's winners Gloucestershire at Cleve on February 28. Gloucestershire opened their campaign with a 42-3 win over Cornwall.