London Welsh
Bristol v London Welsh - Semi-Final Preview
By Mark W-J
May 6 2010
If last week’s trip to Doncaster was our biggest game of the season, Friday night’s play-off semi-final at Bristol could arguably be the biggest game since we won promotion from Courage Five South at Imber Court fifteen years ago. Indications are that the crowd will be the biggest of the Championship to-date, eclipsing the 7,714 who witnessed Bristol’s home win over the Pirates on New Year’s Day.
The Bristol faithful will unquestionably turn-out despite the game being broadcast live on Sky; their three home games in the play-off pool stage drew more supporters to the Memorial Stadium (19,613) than have visited Old Deer Park in the entire season (18,454). Yet our average home crowd of 1,318 is the highest in 23 years of league rugby, narrowly surpassing the 1,296 of our first season back at level two of the pyramid in 1998-99. A full house of over 11,800 at Bristol – possible, but unlikely on a Friday night – would surpass the biggest crowd to witness a Welsh performance in the league. The current high is 11,507 at Franklin’s Gardens on the opening day of the 2007-08 season, while there were 10,115 at The Stoop on Boxing Day 2005.
All four semi-finalists completed their pool fixture with bonus-point wins last Saturday. For Welsh, the 31-14 victory at Doncaster was just the second time we’ve picked-up the full complement on the road this season, whereas Bristol have collected eight try bonuses from 14 away games. However, Welsh and Bristol were the only two clubs to gain at least a losing bonus point from each of their 11 away fixtures in the first part of the season. More worryingly for the Exiles, our hosts have lost only once at home all season – to Exeter in October – and have scored four tries in front of their home crowd on nine occasions. Their 60-15 victory at Camborne on Saturday equalled the Pirates’ heaviest home defeat in league rugby (48-3 versus Plymouth, 2003-04) and was only the fourth time that Bristol have scored 60 points in a league match.
Bristol have scored 113 tries and conceded only 39 in their 28 league and play-off games this season, compared to 67 for and 54 against for London Welsh. In both sides the backs have scored about two-thirds of the tries, with the Welsh wingers having claimed 40% of our touchdowns: Bristol’s Dan Norton is currently equal second with Errie Claassens in the overall charts, having scored 13 apiece, two behind Matt Jess (Exeter) and Blair Cowan (Pirates). Curiously, 80% of the tries conceded by Bristol have been scored by the opposition backs, while 31% of those scored against Welsh have come from the wings. Not that I’m suggesting for one minute that Friday night’s fixture will be a feast of running rugby which will entice Premiership supporters to sit up and take notice of the exciting fare being served-up in the Championship…
This will be the 72nd meeting of the clubs since our visit to the County Ground en route to Wales on 22nd December 1900, a game which the home side won 9-6. They’ve emerged victorious on 48 further occasions, so will be looking to round-off a neat half century on Friday. In league meetings, Welsh won both games in the 2003-04 season, but in each of the other four seasons which we’ve spent together at level two (be it Premiership Two, National One or the Championship) Bristol have achieved the double over us while also finishing top of the pile.
Probably the most celebrated game between the clubs was another semi-final, in the RFU Knockout Competition in 1972-73. Welsh were celebrating the official opening of the John Dawes Room, and, unknown to the crowd of 7,500, the eponymous hero had informed his team-mates prior to kick-off that he was retiring at the end of the season. The home side raced into 12-3 lead, prompting a half-time announcement over the PA that a statement regarding the availability of tickets for the Twickenham final would be made after the final whistle. Such perceived arrogance stung the visitors, who responded to another John Taylor penalty with two tries in as many minutes while Gerald Davies was receiving attention, and a late penalty from Alan Pearn secured an 18-15 victory, although Bristol lost 27-15 to Coventry in the final.
The play-offs have certainly achieved their primary objective of keeping the season alive and exciting up until the end of the season, although the fact that the top two seeds qualified for the semi-finals from each pool suggests that the group stage was ultimately superfluous. If Welsh or Bedford can upset their more fancied hosts this weekend then the opponents of the extended format will undoubtedly be up in arms, especially given Bees’ ‘great escape’ from relegation despite losing 21 of 22 games in the main part of the season. Welsh finished 30 points behind Bristol after 22 matches, but that counts for nothing on Friday night. The Premiership play-offs were unpopular for several years before the fans accepted the format and the clubs adapted to their requirements. In that respect Bristol, who were in those play-offs just three years ago, should have the edge on Friday night. But the way the last 12 months have panned-out for Welsh, another twist wouldn’t – or shouldn’t – surprise anyone.
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Stumbleupon06/05/2010 12:04
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I keep getting goosebumps at the thought of the team being able to win!
Let's really get behind the boys tomorrow night, Bristol are favourites yes but never bet against the underdogs who have nothing to lose! They deserve our support more than ever after what they have been through this season.
I am 100% confident that if we play our game and stick to our gameplan like against Exeter and Donny then we CAN beat Bristol tomo night.
I will be very proud of the squad tomo night regardless of the result
C'mon Welsh let's hush those critics!!!!!!!!!
07/05/2010 20:23
You made them fight all the way -
Pity about the try just before half time - I think without the luxury of the video ref it would not have been given. It would have been seen as held up or a knock forward.
Anyway lets hope the club can build on what has been a very good season on the pitch. Congratulations to everyone.
On last night performance it is hard to see how Bristol will survive in the Premiership - if they make. They will need to embark on a big recruitment drive.
Other than a big pack that just rumbled forward they showed little else and even the pack looked a bit vulnerable at times.
A fun evening to end a season that has been tough in many ways.
Thanks to Danny, the coaching and support staff and all the players for surviving the nonsense, keeping focussed and providing us with some very exciting rugby. Also thanks to Kelvin for his continued generosity to keep the 1st XV going.
A final thank you from me to my fellow Supporters Club committee members. Organising, promoting and running coaches to the away games can be hard work yet they managed to do this for all but one of the Saturday and Sunday games this season plus last night's semi-final. It all starts again as soon as the fixture list is out!
Nigel
Anyone know what the attendance was?
Only downside for me was Jason Spice asking the ref about giving yellow cards at one penalty decision. We don't need nonsense like that in rugby.
All in all, well done lads and thank you.
Quote:Marco Bogsham
Gutsy performance, made for better TV than a lot of higher level matches. Should get more people through the turnstyles next season, great advert for the Championship.
Only downside for me was Jason Spice asking the ref about giving yellow cards at one penalty decision. We don't need nonsense like that in rugby.
All in all, well done lads and thank you.
Just watched it back on the tv.
At least Rose the ref, when asked by Spice, told him "I'll be the judge of that". He pretty much warned Spice not to ref the match, which is a good thing. At ODP, Spice asked the ref for everything and pretty much got it!
Why do Sky refer to Errie as "brother of Bath captain Michael". Surely Michael should be "brother of awesome London Welsh winger Errie!".
I would have said more than that, but it's not exactly in Bristol's interest to post a high gate...
Cheers
Paul
I aged 10 years and have more silver hair than before after Friday night :-)
You were our first game of the season and we were your last - I also came to ODP for the away fixture. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed all our encounters on and off the pitch.
I wish you all the best for 2010/11 - whether we still get to to play you or not next season I have no doubt that London Welsh will continue to play entertaining and ultimately, Premiership rugby.
Diolch yn fawr.
Wyn
C'mon Bris!
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