Match Report: Brighton vs London Welsh

It would be fair to say this match did not go the way I would think everyone was expecting. The top of the table against the bottom of the table.

London Welsh kicked off the first half with Tom Hunt at full-back instead of Jacob Butler, whilst Osian McAvoy took up his old outside-half duties in place of the injured Matt Hodgson.

Right from the start Brighton were playing at a higher level and intensity than I suspect the Welsh team expected. For the first fifteen minutes both teams had their moments in attack and both defences had to work hard to keep the opposition away from their try lines. With more and more of the action occurring in the Brighton half, Welsh had a particularly good opportunity to score from an excellent break out by the backs, only for a pass to be knocked on about two yards from the Brighton try line. Welsh were rewarded a little later when another break by the backs put Daffyd Manley over for a try. Not converted. Score 0 – 5

Soon after the restart Welsh had another promising attack by the backs but this was snuffed out only a yard from the Brighton try line. In the following minutes both sides had their problems; Brighton were penalised repeatedly for not throwing the ball down the middle of the line-out, and Welsh were regularly penalised for errors in rucks and loose play. From a scrum only seven yards away from the Welsh try line, Brighton produced an overlap and their right wing scored in the corner. Not converted. Score 5 – 5.

Buoyed up by this success Brighton mounted many attacks in the Welsh half and just before half time were awarded a very kickable penalty opposite the posts, which was duly successful. Score 8 – 5

During half time one presumes that both teams were given a talking to. Five minutes into the second half Welsh front row forwards Chay Bailey and Will McKenna were replaced by Sam Johnson and Ed Crossley. Welsh were having the better of the game now and were rewarded with a score in the left corner. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 8 -12

Brighton came back strongly and at one point were stopped only five yards from the Welsh line. The Welsh struggled to escape from their own half in this period of play, and conceded a penalty in front of their posts. Fortunately for them the kick went wide of the posts. For the ensuing five minutes the game was played almost exclusively in the Welsh half, and Brighton again were awarded a penalty only thirty yards out. This time the kick was successful. Score 11 – 12

After the restart Welsh were again in trouble and only three minutes later they conceded a penalty about forty yards out; the kick was successful. Score 14 – 12

From the restart Welsh got themselves together and with some attacking running and good handling scored a try under the posts. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 14 – 19

Brighton then picked up their game and responded with a try of their own following some excellent offloads among the backs. Converted. Score 21 – 19

The Welsh came straight back into the attack and were awarded a penalty; from the lineout which followed the penalty kick to touch, the Welsh rolling maul pushed over for a try. Not converted. Score 21 – 24

Another try for the Welsh followed within a couple of minutes. Not converted. Score 21 – 29

Brighton had not given up and in the last minutes of the game they scored another try which was not converted. Score 26 -29

The Welsh team looked unsettled all through the match. Tom Douglas was sorely missed in the lineout and open play. Brighton have to be congratulated for their tremendous defensive play which snuffed out Welsh attacks repeatedly, not allowing Welsh any rhythm to their game.

Scorers. Daffyd Manley 2 tries, Byron Leach 2 tries, Garin Lloyd 1 try: Osian McAvoy 2 conversions.

The players: 1 Chay Bailey, 2 Connor Botha, 3 Will McKenna, 4 Ed Couzens, 5 Byron Leach, 6 Ben Davies, 7 Jack Waving, 8 Tom Williams, 9 Adam Nixon, 10 Osian MacAvoy, 11 Adam Dunne, 12 Daffyd Manley, 13 Elis Staines, 14 Harri Lang, 15 Tom Hunt, Replacements: Garin Lloyd, Sam Johnson, Ed Crossley.