by the Bank of France on the weekend, but the Paris-based team return home today feeling as if the rug was pulled from under them after a gruelling 37-26 loss on Sunday.

Renegades came into the match not wanting to play the perfect hosts, after all, they had suffered a stinging 33-21 loss in the first exhibition game on Friday, which left them with rouge faces. They were not in the move to be swept.

Wing Matt Gorman, coming off a memorable Easter Classic where he notched two tries, scored three tries in leading Renegades President's XV in the closing match before 250 rugby-starved fans at the National Sports Club.

Renegades' scoring was rounded out by centre Dave Conway, who scored a pair of tries, and flanker Pat Cooper who had added another. Phil Heaney gave the French team lessons in kicking, when he booted a pair of conversions and connected on penalty kick.

Bermuda rugby fans, who had their appetites whetted by the marvellous performances of the French trio of Dennis Charvet, Eric Fourniols and Jean-Marc Lafond two weeks earlier, were not disappointed with the play of Philippe Daubas, a player familiar to them from two previous Easter Classics.

Daubas, who served as coach of the French team, assembled a group of players who either worked for the bank or were related to someone employed there. Some of the players were also regulars on the Racing Club de France and Toulon.

While Daubas was kept off the scoresheet in the game on Sunday, full-back Michel Magnin more than compensated for that with two tries. Prop Philippe Stott and flanker Pierre Caillateau each contributed a try with scrum-half Didier Michaud hitting on three of his conversions.

In Friday's clash, Magnin began his solid weekend with a try in leading France to a 33-21 victory. Number eight Lionel Tressac provided the French with two more tries and enough confidence to beat their local rivals.

Centre Jean Debeon and flanker Alain Chene scored the other tries for France.

For Renegades, it was Gorman with three tries (he totalled 30 points in the two weekend games) and two others by centre Pat Jones and winger Nick Elwig.

All five tries were converted by Heaney.

The French team will head for home today after a gala reception held for the team last night.

The eighth annual Dick Wilkie Memorial rugby game will take place on Thursday at 4.30 p.m. at the National Sports Club.

The game, in honour of the late St. Brendan's Hospital psychiatrist, will feature the Renegades Seconds against St. Brendan's and King Edward VII Memorial hospitals.

Renegades Seconds: Paul Harris, Craig Bridgewater, Nick Ray, Norman Cotterill, Richard Halluk, Liam McKittrick, Angus MacKay, Nevin Jamieson, Steve Smith, Bryan Mewett, Derek Stapley, Matt Gorman, Douglas Cook, Richard Niven, Martin Jinks, Carl Lambert, Mike James, Patrick Bryan.

MAKING TRACKS -- Bank of France's Jean De Beon heads downfield while Gareth Davies provides cover for Renegades during Sunday's tour match. Renegades won 37-26.

AGAINST ALL ODDS -- Renegades' guest player Scott Correia is heading for the turf, tackled around the legs by Bank of France player/coach Philippe Daubas.