Welsh Heart Dazed Knights
By Dragons' Den
March 20 2010
The opening game of the play-offs is a chance to set a marker. For Welsh the five league points in difficult conditions sends a message to Exeter and Nottingham that they are out to win the group and can play both tight and open styles with equal ease. Doncaster put up a tough challenge but it was the heart and determination of Welsh that left the Knights trailing. One down, one win, five to go!
March 20 2010
The opening game of the play-offs is a chance to set a marker. For Welsh the five league points in difficult conditions sends a message to Exeter and Nottingham that they are out to win the group and can play both tight and open styles with equal ease. Doncaster put up a tough challenge but it was the heart and determination of Welsh that left the Knights trailing. One down, one win, five to go!
Llyr Apgeraint Roberts is a name that strikes fear in the heart of many a London Welsh supporter. With a name like that you would expect his required impartiality to be slightly skewed in our favour but instead there is a perception that we never do well when he is the referee and that too few decisions go our way! Today the result was the one we wanted but whether Mr Apgeraint Roberts will receive a warmer welcome next time he visits ODP is far from certain.
It was a scrappy, brutal affair and the referee and his assistants struggled to maintain any pretence of control. A strong wind blew from the Richmond end of the ground bringing heavy rain with it later in the game. Welsh had the wind behind them in the first half but kicking still proved difficult. An early drop goal attempt by Aled Thomas drifted wide and when Errie Claasens’ pass put Paul Sampson over for a try the conversion was missed. Kicking from hand saw the ball either make little ground or run on too far and over the dead ball line, certainly not a great day to be a fly half or full back. McColl missed a penalty for Doncaster and at the mid-point of the first half the score remained 5-0 in favour of the Dragons.
With a few minutes of the half remaining Sampson crossed the line for the second time, again out wide, after swift passes created the necessary space. Thomas’ conversion gave Welsh a 12-0 half time lead.
Playing into the wind it looked doubtful whether this lead would be enough and after 5 minutes Doncaster’s fly half slotted over a penalty to give the visitors their first points of the afternoon. Claasens continued his prolific scoring record when he beat the Doncaster outside centre to touch down. Thomas’ conversion bounced off the far post to drop over the bar. Welsh lead extended to 19-3.
Welsh defence fell apart for Doncaster’s only try of the game. A series of missed tackles allowed the visitors to make ground and finally Townson had a simple run in. Warnock’s conversion took the score to 19-10 and with 20 minutes remaining the Welsh lead looked decidedly narrow.
Welsh were still in the hunt for their bonus point try and their defence held strong. In the final minutes a Welsh scrum gave them the chance they had been waiting for and a slight turn was enough to give Lee Beach the space to break away and score the 4th try. Thomas’ conversion made the final score 26-10.
This game was worthy of a greater crowd than the 520 that spurned Cardiff or the comfort of watching the Six Nations coverage from their sofas. For Welsh it was probably their best performance of the season. Not as flowing as the victory in October over the Pirates nor as unexpected as the second half efforts at home to Exeter but the most complete performance we have seen. Next week’s trip to Exeter will be a test but, unlike a visit from Apgeraint Roberts, not one that we need face with any sense of fear.
TEAMS:
London Welsh: Aled Thomas, Paul Sampson, Dominic Shabbo, Charlie Gower, Errie Claasens, Gordon Ross, Nick Runciman, Dorian Williams, Chris Whitehead, Lorne Ward, Matt Corker, Mike Powell, Jon Mill (C), Michael Hills, Lee Beach.
Replacements: Ben Gotting, Robin Boot, Ben Thomas, Gavin O'Meara, Rob Lewis, Paul Mackey, Greg Evans.
Doncaster Knights: A Carter, D Flockhart, S McColl, B Armitage, M Williams, A Warnock, C Hallam, S Corsar, S Lawrie (C), N Tau, G Townson, B Griffiths, A Kettle, N Cochrane, A Boyde.
Replacements: M Cusack, S Boden, T Toke, G Kenworthy, J Brooks, M D'arcy, S Grainger.
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Posted by: The Dragons\\\' Den (IP Logged)
Date: 20/03/2010 22:08
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Re: Welsh Heart Dazed Knights
Posted by: londonbound (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2010 10:54
RE the low attendance, maybe if the club paid a little attention to putting a preview on the main site and a team listing prior to the game; it would attract a few more! Seams this is the only site to get at least a view of what's in store well done DD!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:21:16:20:57 by londonbound.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:21:16:20:57 by londonbound.
Re: Welsh Heart Dazed Knights
Posted by: Welshboy69 (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2010 16:14
Congratulations on a hard fought victory in bad conditions. You did London Welsh proud with a superb, disciplined display.
Thanks and keep it up.
Thanks and keep it up.
Re: Welsh Heart Dazed Knights
Posted by: David Barrett (IP Logged)
Date: 21/03/2010 17:37
I tend to agree the need for more publicity on the main site for the play off games if the very low Saturday attendance is going to be improved upon.
Easter Saturday is not usually a good day for attendances but this game could be really vital if we are going to reach the semi finals especially as Nottingham beat Exeter today. In defense of pre-match publicity I think for this Saturdays game it was the first time this season the team was not posted on the main site on the Friday.
Easter Saturday is not usually a good day for attendances but this game could be really vital if we are going to reach the semi finals especially as Nottingham beat Exeter today. In defense of pre-match publicity I think for this Saturdays game it was the first time this season the team was not posted on the main site on the Friday.
Re: Welsh Heart Dazed Knights
Posted by: Churlish (IP Logged)
Date: 22/03/2010 13:02
I freely admit I nearly didn't attend when I read that the big screen was being kept for the use of the prawn samdwiches. As it was there was not enough of them there, so us plebs were allowed in.
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