Welcome back to Rugby! The league season is upon us and what a cracker we have in store.

Those who picked up the match preview for this Round 1 match away to Bracknell RFC, will know all of the facts and figures on the fixture and the strength of the Welsh side this year as we move to stage 2 of project reset.

The lineup for the day included 6 new signings with both Tommy Bell, Steve Shingler and Garin Lloyd making their debuts. The excellent Aussie Byron Leach from Manly also picked up his first cap, alongside Will McKenna and George West.

The squad were without Harri Lang and Tom Douglas who both have slightly niggles and were not risked with some key games in the coming weeks. Regulars Hywel Williams, Tommy Williams and Tom Ireland-Life were not in contention, all on the medium term injury list (all expected back within 6 weeks).&

So, the match against Bracknell, who we first played again since project reset in the 22/23 season;prior to that the sides last met in National 1 in the 2000/2001 season. Bracknell have not beaten the Welsh in any of their previous 7 encounters, but you never know – was this to be their time…..

Well to be clear from the outset - NO it was not. Welsh were circa 90% of strength for this opener and this proved too much for the home side in a tough start to the league campaign for their new DoR.

As stated the Welsh team included some new blood – Garin Lloyd at no.2, Byron Leach at no.5, George West at no.8, Steve Shingler at no.12, Tommy Bell at no.15 and Will McKenna off the bench. More on them later.

Bracknell kicked off and spent the first five minutes with some joy in the Welsh half. This all came to an end when Steve Shingler received a very long pass across to the right from new captain Matt Hodgson, and Shingler moved the ball out to Tom Hunt who evaded tackles and tore down the right wing for fifty yards. Cover having arrived from the Bracknell team, Tom passed the ball inside to club captain Adam Nixon who made about ten yards before he had to pass the ball back to Tom Hunt, still there on the outside; Tom made the remaining ten yards to the Bracknell try line for the first score of the match. A truly wonderful piece of rugby. Not converted. Score 0 – 5

After the restart the game went backwards and forwards from one half to the other with some kick tennis, until new no.8 George West got his hands on the ball at the back of a line-out and dashed ten yards to cross the Bracknell try line. A powerful start to what was a brilliant debut from the back rower. Matt Hodgson converted. Score 0 – 12

After the restart the Welsh steadily moved forward into the Bracknell half as they began to dominate. The superior firepower in decision makers was telling, the axis of Hodgson, Shingler and Bell controlling the game with ball in hand and by boot. That axis would not look out of place in any Championship side!

The first scrum took place on 15 minutes – the teams evenly matched, and all the subsequent scrums went according to put-in. From twenty yards off the Bracknell try line Welsh hit a purple patch of play with quick service from rucks and some good offloads; only a knock-on by Welsh a yard or so from the try line saved Bracknell suffering a third incursion over their whitewash. Welsh continued applying pressure in Bracknell’s half, with only one kick downfield allowing Bracknell to briefly enter the Welsh half. The constant Welsh pressure finally resulted in the forwards going over the line for a try. Big Andy Black as he has for many years and on his 89th appearance proved too much to stop as he boldered over from 8m out. Try converted by Hodgson. Score 0 – 19

From the restart Welsh were soon back in the Bracknell half but were caught on the hop by a long kick by Bracknell upfield, well into the Welsh half. Matt Hodgson was unable to gather the ball in slippy conditions before the Welsh try line, and infringed in some way resulting in the referee awarding a penalty try to Bracknell and yellow-carding Matt. This was controversial with Shingler having a long discussion with the referee. Still the score stood as did the card and Welsh would have 10 minutes down to 14. Score 7 – 19

The lack of an outside half didn’t seem to make any difference to the pressure that Welsh could apply and in less than five minutes Garin Lloyd dove over the Bracknell try line for another score following endless pressure in the Bracknell 22. Another debutant on the score sheet, a try for the former Ospreys and London Scottish man. Converted by Tommy Bell. Score 7 – 26

<p class="font_8">After the restart Welsh continued to apply pressure in the Bracknell half; Matt Hodgson returned to the field just before the break and not long after the forwards scored another try following good precision kicking from Shingler gaining field position for the forwards to show their tight 5 skills; Sam Johnson coming up with the ball. Converted by Matt Hodgson. Score 7 – 33

HALF TIME

Welsh restarted the game and for about two minutes Bracknell were actually in the Welsh half after kicking the ball upfield. It wasn’t to last though and soon Welsh were on the attack again; various team members made significant ground including mentions in dispatches for Aussie Byron Leach and all 6’8 of Ed Couzens in the row. Free flowing rugby is the Exiles trade mark and that was certainly to the fore! Running with the ball in hand and the fast recycling of ruck ball resulted in Tommy Bell running in a try in the corner on his Welsh debut. Tommy now scoring in the Premiership (many times), Championship, URC, Japanese Pro League and now Regional 1 South Central! Not converted. Score 7 – 38

Substitutions were made at this point; Lima Savaiinaea replaced Steve Shingler, Connor Botha replaced Garin Lloyd and Will McKenna replaced Sam Johnston.

Welsh scored another try soon afterwards when Adam Dunne produced an extraordinary run through the Bracknell players and out-paced their defence to score in the corner. The Irish man broke into the 1st XV last season and scored 7 tries in 5 games, he has picked up where he left off! Not converted. Score 7 – 43

Only a couple of minutes later George West added his second of the day with the play being distinguished by some excellent hand-offs amongst the forwards. Aggression from Ben Davies and Byron Leach, tempered with the speed and agility of Rhydian George at 7. Converted by Bell. Score 7 – 50

Welsh were rampant at this point and the home side did well to their real credit to stay remotely in the game. Minutes later Matt Hodgson scored an impressive try to round off his debut as captain, collecting the ball from a loose Bracknell kick to then chip and gather his own kick ahead ,running the last twenty yards and evading two last ditch tacklers to score from 40 yards out. Converted by Matt. Score 7 – 57

The match ended very soon after the restart with Welsh once again on the attack. Slightly baffling why the game was ended at 73 minutes .We hope that points difference is not a factor come season end.

The Welsh have not lost their level of performance during the off season, and the new players have fitted in very well indeed. The scoreline does not do justice to the Bracknell team, who were worthy opponents and are &nbsp;a strong side - they will be fine this season. Bracknell were beaten by a confident and experienced team who recycle the ball quicker and have individual game changers who see and exploit openings very quickly.

An excellent start to the league campaign with no injuries reported and awaiting further key returns to the squad.

We look forward to visiting Camberley next weekend in Round 2.

Welsh Player of the Match: George West

The team: 1 - Andy Black, 2 – Garin Lloyd, 3 – Sam Johnson, 4 – Ed Couzens, 5 – Byron Leach, 6 – Ben Davies, 7 – Rhydian George, 8 – George West, 9 – Adam Nixon, 10 – Matt Hodgson, 11 – Tom Hunt, n12 – Steve Shingler, 13 – Dafydd Manley, 14 – Adam Dunne, 15 – Tommy Bell. Substitutes: Will McKenna, Connor Botha, Lima Savaiinaea.