THEO Brophy-Clews scored four second-half tries to help London Irish snap their 11-match losing streak in all competitions with a comprehensive and morale-boosting 47-17 European Challenge Cup home win against Russian side Krasny Yar this afternoon.

Things began badly for Nick Kennedy’s men as the visitors – who had stunned Stade Francais earlier in the pool phase – took a seventh-minute lead after Tommy Bell misjudged the bounce of the ball and Giorgi Priudzi collected it before crossing the whitewash. Lasha Malaguradze added the extras and Krasny led 7-0.

Yet Exiles his back within five minutes as Academy star Ben Loader grabbed his first senior try for the club. He got hold of his own chip ahead before scorching clear of the defence to dot down. With Bell converting, the scores were level.

Krasny Yar would not lie down, though, and were it not for a couple of handling errors, they might have added to their try tally during a period of concerted pressure in the Irish 22.

As it was, the visitors had to settle for a Malaguradze penalty shortly before the break to take a well-deserved 10-7 lead at half time.

The second period was a different story, though, with Exiles producing a much-improved display.

The opening quarter-of-an-hour was somewhat scrappy, but Irish hit the front after a powerful rolling maul put the Russians on the back foot, allowing Scott Steele to release Brophy Clews for the first of what became a dream 20 minutes for the former Abingdon School pupil.

Bell’s last action before being replaced by Joe Cokanasiga was to kick the conversion and put his side 14-10 up.

Bracknell News:

Lovejoy Chawatama takes the game to Krasny Yar.

It took until the 64th-minute for the hosts to really take a grip of the game, but they did so when Cokanasiga added another entry to his growing scrapbook of sensational off-loads, Brophy Clews the beneficiary as he scooted over for his second try.

Fly half Jacob Atkins took over kicking duties from the departed Bell and made no mistake, Exiles securing an 11-point advantage.

Just three minutes later Irish wrapped up the bonus point, replacement prop Lovejoy Chawatama helping himself to a try almost immediately after coming on when he went over at the back of another powerful maul. Atkins was unable to land his kick but the home side were in complete control at 26-10.

It got even better just two minutes later as Brophy Clews completed a memorable hat-trick, the inside centre popping up on the right wing before breaking away to score, Atkins this time successful in adding the two further points.

The flurry of tries continued as Cokanasiga showcased his frightening power to barrel through a host of would-be tacklers two minutes later, the 19-year-old dotting down before Atkins made it 40-10 from the tee.

A sixth try in a little more than 20 minutes – and a fourth for Brophy Clews - arrived as the game entered its final five minutes, substitute scrum half Ben Meehan releasing his teammate who wriggled through to cross the whitewash. Atkins landed a fourth successful kick from five to extend the lead to 47-17.

Bracknell News:

Jacob Atkins slots a conversion for London Irish.

The Russians continued to battle, though, and had the final word when replacement Sunia Latu rounded off the scoring with a late try, Malaguradze converting.

The result leaves London Irish third in pool four with 11 points from their five games, two behind Stade Francais.

The Parisians host group winners Edinburgh next weekend, and were they to slip up, an Irish victory – especially if they sealed a bonus-point - against Krasny Yar could help Exiles snatch one of the three best runner-up places and a spot in the quarter finals.

London Irish play Krasny Yar at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, next Saturday (1pm).

London Irish: Bell (Cokanasiga 55), Ransom, Williams, Brophy Clews, Loader, Atkins, Steele (Meehan 65), Elrington (Smallbone 68), Paice (Woolstencroft 68), Hoskins (Chawatama 65), Lloyd, De Chaves (c), Cooke, Northcote-Green (Gleave 74), Curtis-Harris (Basham 34).

Krasny Yar: Matiashvili (Latu 65), Galinovsky, Pruidze, Malaguradze, Artemyev (c), Apikotoa, Dorofeev (Ryabov 74), G.Tsnobiladze, V.Tsnobiladze, Fukofuka, Mahu, Garbuzov, Gresev, Arhip, Khudyakov.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SCO)

Attendance: 4,746.