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Corry's a winner in Twickenham farewell

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Martin Corry made a triumphant farewell to Twickenham as he led the Barbarians to a 33-26 defeat of England on Saturday.

The Leicester Tigers skipper, in his final appearance at England rugby HQ before retirement, saw the invitational Barbarians side run in five tries and then hold on in the face of a late England comeback.

Corry, who made a surge through the England backline to set up a first-half try for Chris Jack and also crucially stole England lineout ball in the closing stages, said: “Today will be up there with my most treasured moments.

“It's very rare you get to choose the way in which you go out, I couldn't have asked for a more fitting finale.

"England and Leicester have given me a huge amount of good times. When I look back overall it will be with a huge amount of pride.”

Corry led the Barbarians on to the field in the company of his children Edward and Eve who acted as mascots, and they also joined him for a farewell to the 40,000 crowd at the final whistle.

“Today was a special occasion and one the kids will remember forever as well," he said.

"I really enjoyed the first 60 minutes and we hung on for the win and that's the most important thing. We're all competitive, we play to win and I'm glad we got that.

"The fact this was my final game in England hasn't sunk in yet. We've still got another game to come in Australia and, fingers crossed, I'll be selected for that. Hopefully I'll get one more run out.

“For my last game at Twickenham, though, it was a great way to finish."

The match was also a Twickenham farewell for fellow World Cup winner Josh Lewsey, while the Barbarians side included Mike Catt, Rocky Elsom, Jerry Collins and Doug Howlett.

"When I was a fresh faced rookie at Bristol all those years ago, Cozza was my captain then, so it was fitting to be able to run out alongside him today," Lewsey said.

The Baabaas raced into a 14-point lead in the opening 15 minutes, with Iain Balshaw making the breakthrough before All Blacks second row Jack crossed for the second try.

England fought back as Leicester flanker Lewis Moody, returning to the side after a 15-month absence, stole a Baabaas lineout and Chris Robshaw’s inside pass allowed Ben Foden to score.

Elsom, man of the match in Leinster’s Heineken Cup Final victory, grabbed another try for the Baabaas after the break and Ben Blair converted a score from Balshaw. Lewsey then set up Gordon D'Arcy and Blair’s conversion gave the visitors a 33-5 lead before England fought back.
 
Debutants Jordan Turner-Hall, Tom May and Matt Banahan were on the mark, all converted by Andy Goode, as England clawed their way back to within a single score.

England: Delon Armitage, Ben Foden, Jamie Noon (Tom May 40), Jordan Turner-Hall, Matt Banahan, Andy Goode, Danny Care (Paul Hodgson 52); Tim Payne (Nick Wood 54), Dylan Hartley (Steve Thompson 61), David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Steve Borthwick (Saracens, capt), Louis Deacon (James Haskell 67), Chris Robshaw, Lewis Moody (Steffon Armitage 54), Nick Easter. Rep not used: Chris Jones
Scorers:
Tries -
Foden, Turner-Hall, May, Banahan. Conversions - Goode 3.

Barbarians: Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues & New Zealand), Doug Howlett (Munster & New Zealand), Josh Lewsey (London Wasps & England), Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster & Ireland), Iain Balshaw (Gloucester Rugby & England), Glen Jackson (Saracens), Justin Marshall (Saracens & New Zealand), Clarke Dermody (London Irish & New Zealand), Schalk Brits (Stormers & South Africa), Greg Somerville (Gloucester Rugby & New Zealand), 4 Martin Corry (Leicester Tigers & England, captain), Chris Jack (Saracens & New Zealand), Jerry Collins (Toulon & New Zealand), Serge Betsen (London Wasps & France), Rocky Elsom (Leinster & Australia)
Reps: Sebastien Bruno (Sale Sharks & France), B J Botha (Ulster & South Africa), Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues), Phil Waugh (Waratahs & Australia, Chris Whitaker (Leinster & Australia), Mike Catt (London Irish & England), Ratu Nasiganiyavi (Waratahs).
Sin bin: Waugh (68-78)
Scorers:
Tries -
Balshaw 2, Jack, Elsom, D'Arcy. Conversions - Blair 4