London Welsh vs Hammersmith and Fulham.

There was one change to the published team list for the Welsh, Andy Black taking Rhydian George’s place. Rhydian has been out for a few weeks injured.

Welsh kicked off and attacked continuously and were eventually rewarded with a try by Byron Leach, part of a rolling maul which pushed from a lineout around the 22 yard line. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 7 – 0

From the H&F restart Welsh gained possession and were quickly up in the opposition’s half, but by dint of up and under kicks forward by both teams the game ebbed back and forth across the half-way line. Eventually Welsh conceded a penalty just inside their half for not releasing the ball (one of many such concessions by Welsh), H&F not able to take the kick successfully. Welsh counter-attacked and made it all the way up to the H&F 22 yard line before Tom Williams raced twenty five yards through a gap in the H&F defence to score. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 14 – 0

It was only a couple of minutes later that Welsh had gained possession from the restart and displayed their flair at running at the opposition, keeping possession with support at hand, and fast output from rucks. Garin Lloyd ended up as the man on the end of an attacking line and scored in the left-hand corner. Not converted. Score 19 – 0

Welsh again powered forward from the restart and this time it was Josh Pieterse who crossed the H&F try line with the ball. Not converted. Score 24 – 0

The Welsh machine rolled forward again from the restart and Garin Lloyd scored his second try from a rolling maul formed after a lineout gained by a penalty against H&F. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 31 – 0

I was amazed at this point to discover that only twenty five minutes had been played. From the next restart possession went back and forth between the teams, but it was noticeable that if H&F managed to move into the Welsh half, they weren’t there for long. The next score was by Josh Pieterse running round the back of a lineout and through an unprepared defence. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 38 – 0

Welsh scored again only a minute later, running and passing the ball from their own half for Elis Staines to score near the posts. Converted by Osian McAvoy. Score 45 – 0

Suddenly fortune smiled on H&F and against the odds they scored a try in the left corner which was converted. Score 45 -7

The scoring of a try rejuvenated H&F and they spent the last minutes of the first half in Welsh territory and scored again after the advantage of a couple of penalties awarded against the Welsh. Not converted. Score 45 – 12

HALF TIME. Adam Nixon came on to replace Matt Hodgson, who had been struggling in the first half after returning from injury. Osian McAvoy moved to outside half, and I never did work out who was playing full-back for Welsh in this half.

After the restart H&F played with more vigour but neither team could achieve a decisive break. Welsh defence was covering and tackling very well; H&F rarely managed to cross the gain line when they had possession in hand. In the first ten minutes of the second half Connor Botha had to replace an injured Garin Lloyd, and Ben Davies replaced an injured George West. Welsh managed to put together a succession of good attacking runs which put Dafydd Manley within touching distance of the H&F try line, but he knocked on. Welsh pressure kept them well up in the H&F half; awarded a scrum only a few yards from the H&F line Welsh pushed the H&F pack backwards and then released the ball for Tom Hunt to score quite easily in the corner. Not converted. Score 50-12

Josh Pieterse had to be replaced by a returning Garin Lloyd at this point. Remarkably it was H&F who scored next after some good running with the ball and a lovely kick across the field for their left wing to run onto and score in the corner. Not converted. Score 50 – 17

Welsh rather spoilt H&F’s fun though by promptly running the ball down the field for Garin Lloyd to score again in the right corner. Not Converted. Score 55 – 17

After some robust play by H&F, Hywel Williams was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on. This encouraged H&F to try harder and they put together several attacks. But in the last minute of the match Welsh produced a counter-attack which took them well into the H&F half and Osian McAvoy ran in a try from an unexpected change in the angle of his run to score on the right. He was unable to convert. Score 60 – 17

Observations on the game: Josh Pieterse has really settled in now and is really making his presence felt. H&F had most success when they ran the ball but tried too often to bulldoze their way forward. The Welsh defence was tough and efficient, they moved the ball very quickly from rucks, and their scrummaging was excellent. Lineout honours about equal.

Scorers: Byron Leach, Tom Williams, Garin Lloyd (3), Josh Pieterse (2), Elis Staines, Tom Hunt, Osian McAvoy (1 try and 5 conversions).

The team: 1 Josh Pieterse, 2 Garin Lloyd, 3 Sam Johnson, 4 Tom Douglas, 5 Byron Leach, 6 Ben Davies, 7 Andy Black, 8 Tom Williams, 9 Hywel Williams, 10 Matt Hodgson, 11 Harri Lang, 12 Dafydd Manley, 13 Elis Staines, 14 Tom Hunt, 15 Osian McAvoy. Substitutes: Connor Botha, Adam Nixon, George West.