Bristol may have recorded the first score but during the previous ten minutes opportunities had already been missed by both sides. London Welsh had the first chance when a free kick was awarded for a lineout infringement, the ball was twice moved across the width of the field only for the ball to be snatched from Dominic Shabbo just short of the line. Bristol had also come close with a knock-on just inside the Welsh 22 meter line preventing the score. The deadlock was broken when a long cross-field kick was gathered by the Bristol wing and the ball slipped to Arscott to score. Jarvis converted to give Bristol a seven point lead.

During the next quarter of an hour Welsh were unable to make the most of several breaks and an Aled Thomas penalty was all they had to show for this continued pressure. Bristol’s pack, with the additional help of their outside centre, formed an impressive rolling maul but somehow the Dragons stopped the home side from crossing the try line. A long penalty kick took Welsh out of their half and a further penalty reduced the deficit to 7-6 when Aled Thomas kick for goal was successful.      

Ferocious tackling kept Bristol in their own half until Welsh were caught offside. The kick took Bristol back down to the Welsh 22 meter line but once again they failed to make anything from this opportunity. It looked as if London Welsh were going to be ahead at half time when Thomas’ third successful penalty gave them a two point lead but a lose kick from the Welsh scrum half was gathered on the Bristol 22, run half the length of the field by Arscott with a simple pass to Norton for the try. Jarvis converted and score moved on to 14-9.

Bristol made a positive start to the second half, stripping the ball from Tom Brown on the half way line but again the try proved elusive. A London Welsh knock-on, five meters from the Bristol try line, brought to an end a move that started from a line-out and included a break by Paul Mackey. By this stage the referee was giving a fine demonstration of semaphore and it was Bristol that benefited from the next set of arm-waving when Welsh crept off side. Jarvis’ kick took score to 17-9.  Welsh forwards and backs interlinked and inched closer to the Bristol try line but the best chance was foiled when Claassens was bundled into touch. He didn’t have to wait long to have another run to the line and this time was successful. Thomas maintained his 100% kicking record and took his side into the lead for the first time.

Another Bristol infringement gave Thomas a further kick at goal. The kick, from wide out and into a strong wind, hung in the air and Paul Mackey followed up to snatch the ball from the finger tips of the Bristol players to touch down under the posts. With Thomas converting the score was 17-23 and suddenly a Welsh win looked possible.

Two Bristol penalties levelled the scores and their team sparked into life. Lee Robinson caught the ball on his 22 finding gaps in the Welsh defence to score in the corner. Jarvis missing the conversion gave London Welsh a consolation bonus point but even in the final moments they could have taken the four points they perhaps deserved after Lea Beach took a quick tap penalty but it wasn’t to be.

London Welsh supporters were no doubt left feeling pleased with much of the performance and disappointed with the result. In previous seasons Bristol would have been looking nervously at the likes of Exeter, Bedford and Cornish Pirates knowing that without a quick and significant improvement in form the chances of promotion could easily slip away. The play-offs make promotion a lottery and even a handful of defeats before mid-March are unlikely to jeopardise a top eight place. Meanwhile, London Welsh now have just a four league point deficit to overcome, something that is clearly too difficult for the BBC to reflect in their version of the table!

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