Rotherham 22 London Welsh 28 - Match Report
By Dragons' Den
September 27 2009
Penalties and errors dominated the game and although London Welsh came away with the win and four league points there were very few moments where either set of supporters could get too excited about the rugby on offer. With the lottery of the play-offs deciding the fate of teams this season, both sides need to improve to be certain of a top eight placing at the end of February.
September 27 2009
Penalties and errors dominated the game and although London Welsh came away with the win and four league points there were very few moments where either set of supporters could get too excited about the rugby on offer. With the lottery of the play-offs deciding the fate of teams this season, both sides need to improve to be certain of a top eight placing at the end of February.
Penalties and errors dominated the game and although London Welsh came away with the win and four league points there were very few moments where either set of supporters could get too excited about the rugby on offer.
It was all change for London Welsh. Not in terms of players, as the starting XV was identical to the previous Saturday’s, but in terms of kit with the new change strip being worn instead of the traditional red shirts. The change kit for the last couple of seasons hadn’t captured the imagination of the supporters despite the grey colour being branded ‘Welsh Steel’. We can only presume that this theme will continue and the new shirts will be described as ‘Saudi Oil Black’.
Rotherham were the first score with their fly half, Jonny West, putting over a penalty in the opening minutes. When a London Welsh player got up from a tackle instead of releasing the ball West was again successful with his kick at goal and the home side had a six point lead. Both teams created plenty of chances but poor handling ended each move and the first try of the game remained elusive.
Rotherham were caught offside and with the penalty well within Aled Thomas’ range Welsh had their first points of the afternoon. It appeared that Rotherham would extend their lead when Namibian International Tinus Du Plessis make a break but he was to concede a penalty for not releasing the ball after being tackled.
Aled Thomas then put the Dragons into the lead with a try. A Rotherham kick was charged down and the ball gathered by the Welsh pack. Two drives forward, a quick ball through the hands of the centres and the Full Back was able to place the ball on the try line to score. The conversion was missed and Welsh were now 8-6 ahead.
From the restart the London Welsh defence opened up and Jonny West took his chance. The Fly Half made good ground and with Ross Batty in support a simple pass allowed the Hooker to score. West converted and Rotherham regained the lead. He then had two further penalty chances, the first dropped short but the second was successful. At half time the score was 16-8.
Handling errors continued in the second half cancelling out several opportunities. Welsh finally strung a move together when the speed and accuracy of Gordon Ross’ pass created a gap in the Rotherham defence giving Dominic Shabbo, on for Neil Starling, the space to run to the line. Another Aled Thomas conversion reduced the home team’s lead to a single point.
Gordon Ross then scored his first league points for London Welsh with a well taken drop goal but this was soon cancelled out when poor discipline gave Rotherham a penalty that West duly converted. The score was now 19-18. Welsh made a promising attack and Ross’ attempt at a drop goal drifted wide. Paul Mackey had now replaced Simon Whatling in the centre and the pace suddenly lifted. When a penalty was awarded 10 metres inside Rotherham’s half Thomas took the further three points to move the score onto 19-21.
Mackey’s pass to Jon Mills took play to within a few metres of the Rotherham try line and when the ball was held up Welsh had an attacking 5 metre scrum. The Welsh pack piled on the pressure with Rotherham conceding a penalty for deliberately turning the scrum. Welsh opted to take another scrum and a further Rotherham infringement gave the referee no alternative but to award a penalty try. The conversion gave Welsh a 28-19 lead.
It was then Rotherham’s turn to add to their total, and earn their losing bonus point, when Welsh were penalised for being offside. With the Dragon’s lead reduced to six points a converted try would have been enough for the home team to snatch a victory. With Tom Brown calling for his team mates to ‘finish it’ London Welsh hung on for the six minutes of injury time to record a win. The four league points moved them up to sixth place in The Championship.
With the next three matches against Bedford, Exeter and Cornish Pirates the team will need to reduce on the handling errors and penalty count if they keep the winning run going and remain in the all-important top-eight.
It was all change for London Welsh. Not in terms of players, as the starting XV was identical to the previous Saturday’s, but in terms of kit with the new change strip being worn instead of the traditional red shirts. The change kit for the last couple of seasons hadn’t captured the imagination of the supporters despite the grey colour being branded ‘Welsh Steel’. We can only presume that this theme will continue and the new shirts will be described as ‘Saudi Oil Black’.
Rotherham were the first score with their fly half, Jonny West, putting over a penalty in the opening minutes. When a London Welsh player got up from a tackle instead of releasing the ball West was again successful with his kick at goal and the home side had a six point lead. Both teams created plenty of chances but poor handling ended each move and the first try of the game remained elusive.
Rotherham were caught offside and with the penalty well within Aled Thomas’ range Welsh had their first points of the afternoon. It appeared that Rotherham would extend their lead when Namibian International Tinus Du Plessis make a break but he was to concede a penalty for not releasing the ball after being tackled.
Aled Thomas then put the Dragons into the lead with a try. A Rotherham kick was charged down and the ball gathered by the Welsh pack. Two drives forward, a quick ball through the hands of the centres and the Full Back was able to place the ball on the try line to score. The conversion was missed and Welsh were now 8-6 ahead.
From the restart the London Welsh defence opened up and Jonny West took his chance. The Fly Half made good ground and with Ross Batty in support a simple pass allowed the Hooker to score. West converted and Rotherham regained the lead. He then had two further penalty chances, the first dropped short but the second was successful. At half time the score was 16-8.
Handling errors continued in the second half cancelling out several opportunities. Welsh finally strung a move together when the speed and accuracy of Gordon Ross’ pass created a gap in the Rotherham defence giving Dominic Shabbo, on for Neil Starling, the space to run to the line. Another Aled Thomas conversion reduced the home team’s lead to a single point.
Gordon Ross then scored his first league points for London Welsh with a well taken drop goal but this was soon cancelled out when poor discipline gave Rotherham a penalty that West duly converted. The score was now 19-18. Welsh made a promising attack and Ross’ attempt at a drop goal drifted wide. Paul Mackey had now replaced Simon Whatling in the centre and the pace suddenly lifted. When a penalty was awarded 10 metres inside Rotherham’s half Thomas took the further three points to move the score onto 19-21.
Mackey’s pass to Jon Mills took play to within a few metres of the Rotherham try line and when the ball was held up Welsh had an attacking 5 metre scrum. The Welsh pack piled on the pressure with Rotherham conceding a penalty for deliberately turning the scrum. Welsh opted to take another scrum and a further Rotherham infringement gave the referee no alternative but to award a penalty try. The conversion gave Welsh a 28-19 lead.
It was then Rotherham’s turn to add to their total, and earn their losing bonus point, when Welsh were penalised for being offside. With the Dragon’s lead reduced to six points a converted try would have been enough for the home team to snatch a victory. With Tom Brown calling for his team mates to ‘finish it’ London Welsh hung on for the six minutes of injury time to record a win. The four league points moved them up to sixth place in The Championship.
With the next three matches against Bedford, Exeter and Cornish Pirates the team will need to reduce on the handling errors and penalty count if they keep the winning run going and remain in the all-important top-eight.
London Welsh | Rotherham |
| 15: Aled Thomas 14: Paul Sampson 13: Neil Starling 12: Simon Whatling 11: Errie Claassens 10: Gordon Ross 9: Nick Runciman 1: Dorian Williams 2: Dan George 3: Michael Holford 4: Matt Corker 5: Mike Powell 6: Jonathan Mills (c) 7: Lee Beach 8: Tom Brown 16: Chris Whitehead 17: Joe Horn-Smith 18: Ben Thomas 19: Rob Bell 20: Rob Lewis 21: Paul Mackey 22: Dominic Shabbo | 15: Brad Hunt 14: Peter Wackett 13: Andrew Henderson 12: Nick Buckley 11: Matt Farmer 10: Jonny West 9: Neil Chivers 1: Colin Quigley 2: Ross Batty 3: Ben Prescott 4: Gregor Hayter 5: Sam Dickinson 6: Andrew Barnes 7: Tinus Du Plessis 8: Steve Swindall 16: Matt Rhodes 17: Tom Allen 18: Anton O'Donnell 19: Nigel Conroy 20: Jamie Kilbane 21: James Craig 22: Ryan Burrows |
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Posted by: The Dragons\\\' Den (IP Logged)
Date: 27/09/2009 13:42
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