It was two days before Gatting's 36th birthday, pitched a mile outside leg stump and took the off.l Grossly unfair allegations have been made about his weight over the years But... But to keep things in perspective, he had already notched his first pair by then, against Essex, that May.l By contrast his first Test hundred took him a mere 54 innings, coming against India in December 1984. He obviously liked them too because four innings later he got a double-hundred.l He had first played Test cricket, having been selected as a boyish all-rounder, presumably on captain Brearley's recommendation, for the tour of India and New Zealand in 1977-78.l His England debut was in a one-day international on that trip, the scores of which Wisden did not think important enough to print in full. l Gatting made his debut for Middlesex against Worcestershire in 1975 when he was 22 days past his 18th birthday. He made 10 and was dismissed by Ted Helmsley, who provided him with his first catch later in the match. l His batting position in that game was at number five, which is the same as he occupied in his final appearance against Derbyshire at Derby this week.l In his third and final match of 1975 he came up against Gloucestershire and was dismissed in both innings by the left-arm spin of David Graveney, who is now his co- selector of the England team.l When Gatting played Essex for the first time the following summer he was bowled by Graham Gooch, who is now his other co-selector.l His first half-century came against Northamptonshire in May 1976, a match which also brought him his first wicket, that of the Pakistani Test batsman Mushtaq Mohammad, whom he had caught by Mike Brearley.l But he had to wait somewhat longer for his maiden first-class hundred. It came in his 78th innings and when he made 103 not out against Yorkshire in July 1978.l In his very next innings, against Derbyshire, he scored another.

Like all those who begin as raw youths he can only have dreamt of how his career might turn out Here are some of his formative landmarks. AFTER 24 seasons of professional cricket Mike Gatting retires today. But Perpignan started to show their class when scrum-half Mathieu Barrau and then flanker Bernard Goutta swooped for tries that 37-year-old fly-half Didier Camberabero converted to add to his earlier penalty. A three-try burst in just five minutes swept them clear and although Neath never really cracked, it was as good as over as a contest.Fly-half Matthew McCarthy had got Neath off the mark with an early penalty, and he added two more before half time, but once the French had got their noses in front after half an hour they were never headed again.Neath did score four of the 11 tries in a thoroughly entertaining match, wing David Tiueti pouncing for the first when scrum-half Patrick Horgan put in an astute kick behind the defence.

Tieuti turned from try scorer to try saver when he cut down his opposite number Gregory Tutard with a magnificent tackle but the French wing was not to be denied moments later.His try was followed alarmingly quickly by further scores from the centres Nicolas Martin and Didier Plana as the visitors threatened to cut loose.But Neath have always had tremendous fighting spirit and the class of '98 are no different from their predecessors.Their final two tries were both created by No 8 Scott Eggar, though perhaps the pick of the pack was the all-action flanker, Brett Sinkinson.Centre Geraint Evans made the most of a lovely pass from Eggar for the first and then hooker Mefin Davies burrowed over.But, inevitably, Perpignan had the final word with tries from replacement Gerard Majoral and Barrau.Neath: L Richards; I Jones, J Colderley, G Evans, D Tiueti; M McCarthy, P Horgan (capt); L Gerrard (D Jones 40) , M Davies, M Morgan, M Turner, A Jackson, S Martin (R Francis 59), B Sinkinson, S Eggar.Perpignan: G Bastide (G Arandiga 79); A Joubert, D Planat, N Martin, G Tutard; D Camberabero (L Salies 55), M Barrau (C Perarnua 74); R Peillard, R Ibanez, P Meya (M Knoieckiewicz 23), O Olibeau, M James, S Deroeux, B Goutta (G Majoral 52), T Lievremont (capt).Referee: B Campsall (England).. He kicked another penalty before Horgan crossed for a smart try - only for Neath to be sunk by that quickfire try hat-trick. Defeat in their opening European Cup Pool B match by crack French club Perpignan may have been somewhat predictable after all that Neath have been through, but it now leaves them needing to lift morale for their tricky trip to Munster on Saturday. "I was a bit disappointed our defence fell apart near the end when we lost a bit of fire and some heads went down," the Neath coach, Lyn Jones, said.Up until then Neath had given Perpignan a fair run for their money, just one point separating the sides after 50 minutes before the French stepped up the pace. Strong running from Kacala again and Botham allowed Mike Rayer to glide over on the overlap, and Jarvis intercepted a hopelessly ambitious Quins' mis-move to sprint 60 yards for the second.Quins did manage a couple of late consolation tries to give the scoreline a semblance of respectability, but again they in no way reflected the run of play. NEATH SURVIVED a summer of upheaval, including being taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union when their debts soared to pounds 600,000, but they could not survive against French flair and fire at The Gnoll yesterday. Hooker Colin Ridgeway was driven over from a line-out and lock Garrick Morgan sprinted clear deep into injury time.Harlequins: D O'Leary; D Bull (P Mensah 60), D Officer, J Schuster, J Keyter; B Going (S Power 65), N Walshe; D Barnes, C Ridgeway, A Yates (R Nebbett 60), B Davison, G Morgan, G Bibby (T Collier 52), Z Brooke (K Wood 70), A Leach.Cardiff: C Morgan (M Rayer 71); L Botham, M Hall (G Thomas 55), M Wintle, S Hill; L Jarvis, R Jones; A Lewis, P Young (J Humphreys 63), L Mustoe (D Young 71), J Tait, D Jones (K Stewart 50), O Williams, G Kacala, D Baugh (J Ringer 63).Referee: D Price (Wales). ROUND-UP SWANSEA won the battle of the champions yesterday as 21 points from the boot of their international fly-half Arwel Thomas eased them to a 26-14 home victory over the English title holders, Newcastle. The Welsh champions, who have opted out of their national league to play against Allied Dunbar Premiership One teams this season, made it three wins out of three at St Helen's Ground.

Moir's interception of a loose pass had given him a 10-yard start on the field but Leicester's wing closed him down, stride for breathtaking side, and Moir was brought down five yards short.Northampton had little to offer. Their forwards could make no impact and their back row, denied any kind of stable platform, were ineffectual. David Dantiacq, their much-heralded signing from France, appears to be something of a fair-weather friend and his reluctance to become embroiled in the defensive chores places a burden on his colleagues.Northampton in fact defended rather well, although there were too many high tackles and their indiscipline surfaced too often. Both Andy Northey and Grayson were ordered to the sin-bin and, as the ultimate punishment, both were replaced. Budge Pountney's try three minutes from time was no form of consolation.Leicester: T Stimpson; L Lloyd (C Joiner 78(, S Potter, P Howard, N Ezulike; J Stransky, A Healey (J Hamilton 40); G Rowntree (D Jelley 7), R Cockerill, D Garforth, M Johnson (capt), F Van Heerden, P Gustard, M Corry, N Back (L Moody 78).Northampton: N Beal; C Moir, D Dantiacq, A Northey (M Allen 52), H Thorneycroft; P Grayson (A Hepher 78), J Bramhall; G Pagel, C Johnson, M Hynes (M Volland 64), J Chandler (D MacKinnon 55), R Metcalfe, G Seely, T Rodber (capt), B Pountney.Referee: G Hughes (Manchester)..

This time his break allowed Rob Jones to burst through from the ruck and the scrum-half's chip kick was grounded by Hill.Quins' game deteriorated still further in the second half as Cardiff's superior play in the loose brought them both a mass of possession and two more tries. It took a much more direct run from Zinzan Brooke finally to set up O'Leary for a simple try.The powerful and committed Kacala was influential again in setting up a deserved first try for Cardiff. The winger Simon Hill did cross the line but was brought back for a forward pass.Quins spent most of the first half in ragged defence, apart from a five- minute period, which brought them a try and the lead against the run of play. Full-back Daren O'Leary had the first opportunity but opted to run sideways.