National Division 1

17th February 2007

Old Deer Park

Welsh 35

Titans 38

Earth Titans

15 Mike Whitehead (Turnbull 73), 14 Brian Tuohy, 13 Showan Smith, 12 Shane Stewart (Hennessey 51), 11 Errie Claassens, 10 Gareth Steenson, 9 Joe Bedford (Capt), 1 Sam Walsh, 2 Nigel Conroy, 3 Adam Hopcroft, 4 Jannie Bornman, 5 Louie McGowan, 6 Hendre Fourie, 7 Barry Jacobsz (McComb 29), 8 Neil Cochrane.

Replacements: 16 Jamie Kilbane, 17 Gareth McComb, 18 Steve Croall, 19 Bernard Hennessey, 20 Michael Kirkwood, 21 Andrew Turnbull, 22 Jamie Blackwood.

London Welsh

15 Sam Ulph, 14 Paul Sampson, 13 Neil Taylor, 12 James Storey, 11 James Strong, 10 Tom Marks, 9 Warren Fury, 1 Dorian Williams, 2 Chris Ritchie, 3 Lorne Ward, 4 Howard Quigley (Capt), 5 Kevin Burke, 6 George Robson, 7 Simon Etheredge, 8 Richard Griffith.

Replacements:  16 Johnny Marsters, 17 James Campbell, 18 Paul Cox, 19 Martin Anayi, 20 Robbie Shaw, 21 Dylan Pugh, 22 Duncan Hayward.

Afterwards a relieved Head Coach Andre Bester said, “We were lethargic, we traveled for three and a half hours down on the bus, we were caught in traffic, we arrived only an hour before the game and we haven’t played for three weeks and it showed today.

“We struggled first half to get into the match, but our second half performance was much better. But we still gave away too many penalties and we were not happy with our defence.”

There’s no doubt the long lay off affected the Rotherham performance particularly in the first half which they lost 24-14. An 8^th minute injury time try from Errie Claassens prevented the score line from reading much worse for the visitors.

Welsh took the lead on 7 minutes from scrum half Warren Fury after the home side make good yardage from a catch and drive inside the Roth 22. Roth responded midway through the half with yet another penalty try, but this did not upset the Welsh’s rhythm.

The hosts playing some neat rugby continued to look threatening every time the ball arrived with their backs and full back Sam Ulph in particular was in outstanding form.

Seven minutes before the break Welsh took advantage of Roth falling asleep. A quick tap penalty by James Storey caught Roth unawares and prop Lorne Ward crashed over to score near the sticks.

Worse was to come for Roth two minutes before the break. Claassens missed a crucial tackle on James Strong and he then drew the final man before off-loading to Ulph for an easy score.

Six minutes into first half stoppage time and Ulph converted a neat penalty to extend the host’s lead to 24-7. Just how Roth could get back into the game was difficult to work out at this stage.

However, with the final play of the half Errie Claassens made up for his earlier error. He collected the ball from just inside his own half and about 15 metres infield. He used his trademark side step to break the gain line and then pinned his ears back to race 50 metres to touch down in the corner. Steenson from the touch line made a superb conversion to send Roth in at the break with a life line.

Roth came out for the second half looking sharper and just six minutes in reduced the arrears further, when a 12 man driving maul saw Joe Bedford emerge from the bottom of the pile with his 7^th try of the season.

An opportunist drop goal by Welsh’s Tom Marks on 49 minutes extended the host lead to six points. Welsh were not about to roll over and die, if Roth were to win this one they would have to battle for it.

Although not at their fluent best, a rusty Roth still had bags of courage and character. On the hour mark, Errie Claassens popped up again on the wing to score Roth’s 4^th try after good work from Tuohy and Conroy. Steenson’s fine conversion took Roth into the lead for the first time in the match.

Not to be out done, just two minutes later Ulph restored the hosts lead with a penalty in front of the posts after Roth had conceded yet another penalty and lost Hendre Fourie for 10 minutes in the sin bin.

Ten minutes from time in this topsy turvey encounter Roth camped in the Welsh 22 and the pressure became too much for the hosts as they conceded a second penalty try of the afternoon.

Welsh now trailed by five points but you just knew there was more to come. And it arrived on 73 minutes after good work by the forwards was finished off in the corner by Welsh man of the match Sam Ulph. Ulph missed the conversion to leave the game poised at 35 each.

Roth went in search of the wining points that they desperately needed if the were to continue their challenge for the title. After some resolute defending from the host’s, in the 4^th minute of injury time, they finally conceded a penalty just outside their 22 and about 15 metres infield.

Up stepped the nerveless Steenson to convert and give Rotherham the win that they just about deserved. Although London Welsh no doubt will have their own views.

Final Score: London Welsh 35-38 Rotherham

Attendance: 1220

Other Weekend Results

Sat 17 Feb 07

Doncaster 16-30 Leeds
Sedgley Park 40-24 Moseley
 

National Division 1

Rotherham v Sedgley Park - Saturday 24 February at Clifton Lane.

kick off 2.00pm