Nottingham 23 London Welsh 16 - Match report
By Pleidiol
September 15 2009
A disappointing result for London Welsh, who never seem to really get into their stride. A direct and committed Nottingham side just seemed hungrier and more aggressive in the tackle. Welsh made a series of handling errors, and seemed unable to guarantee ball retention at the breakdown and lineout. Nottingham took their chances, while London Welsh seemed unable to convert pressure into points.
September 15 2009
A disappointing result for London Welsh, who never seem to really get into their stride. A direct and committed Nottingham side just seemed hungrier and more aggressive in the tackle. Welsh made a series of handling errors, and seemed unable to guarantee ball retention at the breakdown and lineout. Nottingham took their chances, while London Welsh seemed unable to convert pressure into points.
A bright sunny day dawned over Nottingham, but by 3pm the clouds had rolled in from the Trent and there was a chilly breeze to greet the 1006 supporters at the Meadow Lane football ground. London Welsh scored first, courtesy of an early penalty by Aled Thomas after 2 minutes. But a confident and composed Nottingham hit straight back with a try scored by their hooker, Tom Youngs, who sneaked straight through a gap in the Welsh defence in the third minute. The try was converted and suddenly London Welsh were 7 - 3 down. London Welsh were frustrated by passes going behind or onto the toes of the player receiving at vital points in a move, and while passes were invariably held, this did allow Nottingham’s defence a few extra seconds to stifle the move. In contact London Welsh had difficulty protecting their own ball and it seemed that most ball taken into rucks was turned over.
On 18 minutes London Welsh put together an attacking move resulting in Errie Claasens going over in the corner. Unfortunately, the try was disallowed due to some foul play early in the move, which resulted in a kickable penalty for Nottingham way back in the Welsh half and a yellow card for Ben Thomas. Nottingham kept pressing the London Welsh defence and while down to fourteen men, London Welsh conceded another kickable penalty and missed a further two of their own.
After half an hour, and back to 15 men, London Welsh started to put strings of passes together and, putting pressure on the Nottingham line, looked like they might score. London Welsh started to hold on to the ball, retained the ball on the floor and a resulting penalty went London Welsh’s way. More than a converted score adrift and with half time approaching Welsh kicked to the corner. Winning the lineout, a flowing passage of play resulted in an overlap and Aled Thomas going over in the corner. The try was not converted.
Half-time Nottingham 13 - London Welsh 8
Paul Sampson had replaced Dominic Shabbo when the teams ran out for the second half.Nottingham kicked off and London Welsh gathered the ball and, not for the first time, kicked the ball out on the full, putting pressure on themselves and taking the play back to just outside the London Welsh 22. From the resulting pressure Nottingham won their own line out, formed a rolling maul, which London Welsh seemed powerless to stop, and scored. The try was converted.
London Welsh continued to attack and when Nottingham were penalised for holding on just inside their half, Aled Thomas took a shot at goal, which bounced off the left upright. Nottingham cleared and LW No.8 made a fantastic break from the resulting lineout, but the move unfortunately came to nothing.
10 minutes into the second half Danny Wilson brought on Dorian Williams for Lorne Ward. The teams played aerial pingpong, until Aled Thomas took the ball into contact and London Welsh retaining position, won the put in to the scrum. With a new front row forward now on the field, the scrum wheeled and London Welsh were awarded the penalty. London Welsh started to put passes together, but a London Welsh forward pass handed possession back to Nottingham. London Welsh gave away a kickable penalty at the scrum and Nottingham took full advantage.
Now more than 2 converted scores adrift and 25 minutes to play, Welsh pushed hard into Nottingham’s half, putting pressure on the Nottingham defence. Nottingham were caught off-side and London Welsh elected to attack, kicking the penalty into the corner. London Welsh seemed unable to capitalise on the opportunity, but did force Nottingham to give away further penalties. Twice more Welsh elected to kick to the corners, but came away without a score, though for repeated infringements Nottingham lost their scrum half for 10 minutes. With the opposition now down to fourteen men, Danny Wilson took the opportunity to bring on the remaining fresh legs from the bench.
From the restart London Welsh pushed back Nottingham with renewed purpose and the resulting attack saw London Welsh’s Paul Sampson score a try in the corner. The conversion from the right touchline was missed. Nottingham 23 - London Welsh 13
After some pushing and shoving in the lineout, London Welsh lost Michael Holford for 10 minutes, and with him the advantage of having an extra man on the field. Nottingham attacked and won a series of very niggly lineouts in the Welsh 22, but the London Welsh defence held and the pressure was relieved when Nottingham were penalised for holding on. With 7 minutes of normal time remaining London Welsh attacked the Nottingham line, but were kept out by some ferocious tackling. Eventually the ball was knocked on with the try line in touching distance and Nottingham were able to clear the ball to half way. And with both teams back to 15 a side Nottingham re-gathered the ball after a 22 drop out, attacked the London Welsh line and a score in the corner was thwarted only by a double tackle from London Welsh bringing down their right wing less than a metre short.
Into injury time, and with London Welsh camped out in the Nottingham half, it only seemed a matter of time until Nottingham gave away another penalty. And when they did after 4 minutes of stoppage time, Aled was in a position to slot it over. With 1 minute left to go, Welsh attacked from the kick off and managed to keep the ball alive for 3 minutes, before giving away a penalty which Nottingham kicked straight out.
All in all, a missed opportunity.
On 18 minutes London Welsh put together an attacking move resulting in Errie Claasens going over in the corner. Unfortunately, the try was disallowed due to some foul play early in the move, which resulted in a kickable penalty for Nottingham way back in the Welsh half and a yellow card for Ben Thomas. Nottingham kept pressing the London Welsh defence and while down to fourteen men, London Welsh conceded another kickable penalty and missed a further two of their own.
After half an hour, and back to 15 men, London Welsh started to put strings of passes together and, putting pressure on the Nottingham line, looked like they might score. London Welsh started to hold on to the ball, retained the ball on the floor and a resulting penalty went London Welsh’s way. More than a converted score adrift and with half time approaching Welsh kicked to the corner. Winning the lineout, a flowing passage of play resulted in an overlap and Aled Thomas going over in the corner. The try was not converted.
Half-time Nottingham 13 - London Welsh 8
Paul Sampson had replaced Dominic Shabbo when the teams ran out for the second half.Nottingham kicked off and London Welsh gathered the ball and, not for the first time, kicked the ball out on the full, putting pressure on themselves and taking the play back to just outside the London Welsh 22. From the resulting pressure Nottingham won their own line out, formed a rolling maul, which London Welsh seemed powerless to stop, and scored. The try was converted.
London Welsh continued to attack and when Nottingham were penalised for holding on just inside their half, Aled Thomas took a shot at goal, which bounced off the left upright. Nottingham cleared and LW No.8 made a fantastic break from the resulting lineout, but the move unfortunately came to nothing.
10 minutes into the second half Danny Wilson brought on Dorian Williams for Lorne Ward. The teams played aerial pingpong, until Aled Thomas took the ball into contact and London Welsh retaining position, won the put in to the scrum. With a new front row forward now on the field, the scrum wheeled and London Welsh were awarded the penalty. London Welsh started to put passes together, but a London Welsh forward pass handed possession back to Nottingham. London Welsh gave away a kickable penalty at the scrum and Nottingham took full advantage.
Now more than 2 converted scores adrift and 25 minutes to play, Welsh pushed hard into Nottingham’s half, putting pressure on the Nottingham defence. Nottingham were caught off-side and London Welsh elected to attack, kicking the penalty into the corner. London Welsh seemed unable to capitalise on the opportunity, but did force Nottingham to give away further penalties. Twice more Welsh elected to kick to the corners, but came away without a score, though for repeated infringements Nottingham lost their scrum half for 10 minutes. With the opposition now down to fourteen men, Danny Wilson took the opportunity to bring on the remaining fresh legs from the bench.
From the restart London Welsh pushed back Nottingham with renewed purpose and the resulting attack saw London Welsh’s Paul Sampson score a try in the corner. The conversion from the right touchline was missed. Nottingham 23 - London Welsh 13
After some pushing and shoving in the lineout, London Welsh lost Michael Holford for 10 minutes, and with him the advantage of having an extra man on the field. Nottingham attacked and won a series of very niggly lineouts in the Welsh 22, but the London Welsh defence held and the pressure was relieved when Nottingham were penalised for holding on. With 7 minutes of normal time remaining London Welsh attacked the Nottingham line, but were kept out by some ferocious tackling. Eventually the ball was knocked on with the try line in touching distance and Nottingham were able to clear the ball to half way. And with both teams back to 15 a side Nottingham re-gathered the ball after a 22 drop out, attacked the London Welsh line and a score in the corner was thwarted only by a double tackle from London Welsh bringing down their right wing less than a metre short.
Into injury time, and with London Welsh camped out in the Nottingham half, it only seemed a matter of time until Nottingham gave away another penalty. And when they did after 4 minutes of stoppage time, Aled was in a position to slot it over. With 1 minute left to go, Welsh attacked from the kick off and managed to keep the ball alive for 3 minutes, before giving away a penalty which Nottingham kicked straight out.
All in all, a missed opportunity.
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StumbleuponNottingham 23 London Welsh 16 - Match report
Posted by: The Dragons\\\' Den (IP Logged)
Date: 15/09/2009 11:55
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Re: Nottingham 23 London Welsh 16 - Match report
Posted by: Dragons' Den (IP Logged)
Date: 15/09/2009 12:00
A debut report by Pleidiol. Thank you!
Re: Nottingham 23 London Welsh 16 - Match report
Posted by: jjones1131 (IP Logged)
Date: 15/09/2009 20:32
Very entertaining reading. I particularly enjoyed the way in which Pleidiol drew us into the atmosphere; we felt the frustration but he wrote with a genuine supporter's enthusiasm and conviction. More!
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