With Saracens flying out to South Africa it gave a a chance to head to Richmond to watch London Welsh. Now playing in London & SE Division, Regional 1 & South Central (L5) being the 5th tier of rugby in England. Their visitors on the day were Horsham, who they’d beaten narrowly by 6 points, earlier in the season. My friends James & Laura are Patron members at the club and we enjoyed a very nice lunch before the match. With a good introduction to the LW Careers Hub, more of that to follow at a later date. We also had an interview with 2 injured players to enjoy, one of them could easily get a career on the stage, he was very funny!
Welsh kick started the scoring with a rolling maul, with Connor Botha scoring, the conversion went wide. Welsh had a couple of line outs go awry, with one from a penalty stolen by Horsham. A couple of line outs later, Horsham had a wonky throw from one of their line outs, Welsh were strong in the scrum and won the penalty. The ball went back and forwards for a spell.
Horsham had a good opportunity after a penalty for a high tackle in the Welsh 22, they gave away a penalty in the line out however.
The Horsham 15, who’d had a good game went down with a knee injury after a bad tackle, it wasn’t good to hear someone in the crowd shouting at him to get up, he actually had to come off injured. He’d shone for Horsham up to that point.
Horsham were awarded a penalty try after their maul was pulled down after they’d rolled from the line out. Ellis Staines was shown a yellow card at that point.
In spite of being a man down Welsh scored out on the wing through Jack Cohen, a really good phase of play that started with a break by Tololima Savaiinaea, (Lima) who also converted the try.
Welsh blushes were saved after Rohan Pixley had handled a long ball off the end of the pitch, resulting in a scrum for Horsham, Hywel Williams saved the day with a great tackle on the Horsham 8, he took him into touch. The size differential was ‘noticeable’.
The teams went in at half time with the score on London Welsh 12 Horsham 7
Welsh started the half with a great try for Lima, the forwards had battered through a couple of times before the ball got to him, he powered over the line. And converted his own try. Jack Cohen scored his second try as Welsh let loose and stormed up the pitch, he ran into space to score a great try. Lima added the extras.
Horsham hit back quickly after Welsh scored their try, Jack Osgood scoring a good forwards try from the maul. The conversion was a difficult one, and missed. That took the score to Welsh 26 Horsham 12.
Lima was shown a yellow card for a high, no arms tackle. Again, with a quieter arena, it wasn’t good to hear one of the Horsham coaches shouting for a red card.
Ellis Staines scored his second, after Welsh had soaked up some pressure at the wrong end of the pitch. There seemed to be a forward pass in the build up, but there had been a few not picked up. Osian McAvoy added the extras.
Jacob Butler, (Eddie Butler’s son I’m told) on the wing put in a brilliant 50/22 kick which resulted in a try for Botha after the line out, his second. The extras took Welsh to 40. That was 2 tries scored with 14 men on the pitch.
Adam Nixon playing his 50th cap looked to have scored a try, but the referee gave a penalty try. That came from another successful line out after a penalty. Horsham were looking a tired team with 23 minutes remaining.
Welsh won a scrum penalty close to the line, they went quickly with Lima, Williams scored his second, back in for the injured Dafydd Manley, he was thrilled. Lima added the extras and picked up the Man of the Match award, deservedly.
Lima topped his afternoon with another try after a lovely pass from Osian McAvoy He added the extras with a great kick! That took the score to London Welsh 61 Horsham 12. And that was the final score. The attendance was 655, I had a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon.
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