.

Lions

20

London Welsh

.

London Welsh's record this year

Lions turned in a very subdued performance against a very good London Welsh outfit that gave them a lesson in clinical finishing.  Although the opportunities were there, Lions lost possession in too many critical areas against determined Welsh tackling. 

With Stuart Potter still not fully fit, Fa’atoto Moananu (“T” for short) continued in the centre, and Tim Collier carried on in the second row with his 2 match suspension due to start next week.  This allowed Tim Stannard to remain at number 8 with Steve Smith still suffering from his troublesome shoulder. 

Lions were soon on the back foot as a lovely kick from Welsh fly half Andy Lee rolled into the corner.  The Lions’ line-out catch was not clean, and as Tom Walsh tidied up he was turned for Welsh to gain the put in at the scrum 5 metres from Lions’ line.  The initial drive from the base was held, but Florent Rossigneux carried on the momentum to crash over in the corner.  Jon Ufton’s conversion was pulled wide.  ( 0 – 5 ). 

Lions stole a Welsh line-out to drive into the opposition half, and they signalled their intent by taking a quick tap from a mid-field penalty.  As Fa’atoto Moananu took man and ball, referee Geraint Ashton (no hyphen) Jones brought play back for Welsh not retreating 10 metres at the penalty.  This time Cliff Richards kicked to the corner.  However, the ball did not find touch but was knocked on by Tom Lewsey to give Lions a fortunate attacking scrum.   

It had been a frenetic first 10 minutes, and the pace did not slacken as a lovely inside pass from Andy Lee had centre Geraint John striding through, but Richard Davies stopped him with a good tackle.  Welsh arrived in numbers, and as a thrust down the right was held, the ball was moved smartly along the backs for Adam Bidwell to race over in the left corner on the overlap.  This time Jon Ufton landed an excellent conversion from wide out.  ( 7 – 12 ). 

Lions were quickly back in Welsh territory as a loop move by Tristan Prosser-Shaw gave Phil Reed some room on the wing, but he was held as he cut inside.  Welsh were penalised as they prevented Lions regaining possession, and Cliff Richards planted the penalty from 22 metres firmly between the posts.  ( 10 – 12). 

Andy Lee left the field at this point with what looked like a dislocated finger……from the jaunty angle it was protruding, he would have had great difficulty picking his nose with it. 

Another excellent kick to the corner by Adam Bidwell had Lions under pressure again.  Lions won the line-out, but Phil Reed was adjudged offside from Tom Walsh’s box kick, and Jon Ufton planted the penalty into the corner.  The Welsh drive was deemed by referee Geraint Ashton (definitely no hyphen) Jones to have been stopped illegally, and again the kick was put in the corner.  This time there was no stopping the Welsh take and drive as hooker Greg Botterman claimed the touchdown.  Jon Ufton missed the conversion.  ( 10 – 17 ). 

Andy Lee returned to the fray looking finger picking good with his digit suitably taped.  It was now all Lions as they tried to find a way through a stubborn Welsh defence.  A penalty for offside was run by Lions, but to no avail as the Welsh red line held firm.  James Ogilvie-Bull almost broke the deadlock as he took a crash ball, but he lost possession in the tackle and the chance was lost as Welsh cleared. 

Tom Walsh left the field with blood pouring from his head, and Toby Bainbridge-Kay took over temporarily at scrum half.  

A poor kick from Welsh was well fielded by Richard Davies, but as he tried to move the ball wide, Bully seemed to trip over his boot lace and went base over apex to land flat on his back with the pass from Richard Davies flying in his direction.  Somehow Bully contrived to snatch the ball out of the air as he lay floundering, and held on until the cavalry arrived. 

Another chance for Lions went begging as a Chris Jones’ steal at a Welsh line-out saw Cliff Richards make the initial break.  Tristan Prosser-Shaw was on hand to carry on the move but he was bundled into touch in the corner as he looked for support inside.  However, Mr. Ashton (don’t you dare put a hyphen in my name) Jones penalised the Welsh for offside, and Cliff Richards tapped the kick to the corner.  As with the first, the second opportunity was missed as Welsh stole the line-out to clear. 

Lions now had to soak up some tremendous Welsh pressure, but when they did get possession, a poor clearance kick allowed Welsh wing Pete Shaw to skip round some weak tackling.  Lovely interplay between forwards and backs with excellent support play had Lions chasing shadows as James Strong took the final pass to cross by the posts.  Jon Ufton made no mistake with the simple conversion.  ( 10 – 24). 

Richard Davies almost found a way through with a lovely chip and catch, but his flicked pass inside was to a Welsh jersey and again the position was lost.  On the stroke of half time Lions were penalised for holding on as they tried to drive away from their line, but Jon Ufton’s touchline kick drifted wide as referee Geraint Ashton (I’m allergic to hyphens) Jones signalled half time.   

Lions were soon back on the attack as Ben Lewitt stole a poor throw by Welsh at their own line-out to charge deep into Welsh territory.  Unfortunately, the ball was knocked on as Lions pressed for that elusive score.  Lions did well to turn the scrum to gain the put in, but again the ball was lost in the tackle with the line beckoning. 

Bennett Smith decided to change tactics by hoisting a delicate chip to the corner……well as delicate as a chip can be from a prop!!  It almost paid off as the ball just eluded the chasing Phil reed to run dead.  However, play was brought back and Lions were awarded a penalty in front of the posts for offside, which Cliff Richards duly converted.  However, this was scant reward for a sustained spell of pressure from Lions that should have yielded at least one try. ( 20 – 24 ). 

Lions now made wholesale changes, with Matt Tassell replacing James Ogivie-Bull in the centre, Phil Greenbury taking over at prop from Tom Woolrich, and Marek Kwisiuk adopting the hooking role from Jason Brittin. 

The changes seemed to affect Lions’ rhythm as Welsh started to come back into the game.  A blindside break by Jon Ufton was covered by Lions, but when the ball was moved back across field, a neat inside pass from Andy Lee gave replacement Ed Thorpe the room to crash over in the clubhouse corner.  This time Jon Ufton’s conversion fell short.  ( 20 – 29 ). 

Lions strove to get back into Welsh territory, but were penalised by Mr. Geraint Ashton (I’ll sue if you put a hyphen in my name) Jones, to howls of derision from the Shed who felt that the kick should have been awarded the other way.  It was a costly decision, as from the resultant line-out, Jon Ufton grubber kicked through.  Richard Davies looked to have the ball covered, but a wicked bounce took the ball away from him to allow another replacement, former Lion Ben Pain, to pick up and score.  The normally reliable Jon Ufton somehow missed the simple conversion.  ( 20 – 34 ). 

Yet another chance to Lions went begging as a Cliff Richards’ penalty was planted in the corner.  The line-out was duly won, but as the ball was moved wide, Lions again contrived to lose the ball in the tackle to allow Welsh to clear. 

Tristan Prosser-Shaw lead the way back, taking the ball at pace and making good yardage.  Lions were awarded a scrum in the shadow of the Welsh posts……surely they would score this time.  When Alex Birkby was yellow carded for obstruction as Tom Walsh tried to break from the scrum, Lions set the scrum again.  This time a telegraphed inside pass from Tom Walsh to Tim Stannard allowed Welsh to intercept and drive clear.  Yet another golden opportunity gone begging. 

Instead, it was Welsh that conjured up another excellent try as they made room down the short side for replacement wing Matt Vines to step inside the cover and cross by the posts.  Andy Lee added the conversion with Jon Ufton receiving treatment for a knock sustained in the build up to the try. 

There was just time for Forrest Field to replace Chris Jones and get himself involved in a bout of fisticuffs as referee Geraint Ashton-Jones blew for full time. 

A well deserved win for Welsh, although the margin of victory was somewhat flattering.  This was a case of too many turnovers and too many lost opportunities for Lions.  They seem to have lost the sparkle that they displayed at Bedford, and must now look closely at this performance to work out what they need to do to rediscover it.  They certainly need it next week at Moseley where a win is vital in the push to retain their mid table league position.

Tim Stannard

Lions team

.

When Rugby played them at Old Deer Park early last November London Welsh were in seventh place in National Division 1. With a further twelve games played they are now in sixth place. This suggests some sort of consistency and an examination of their results shows that when playing at home they rarely lose. What has kept them out of the top three and anchored them in the centre ground is their away record where wins are nearly as few as losses at home. 

Last Saturday they added Bedford to a long list of home scalps comprising Birmingham, Bracknell, Coventry, Henley, Otley, Rugby and Wakefield. The division’s leaders, Rotherham and Worcester with Moseley as a wild card, inflicted their three home defeats. Away wins were acquired at Bracknell, Henley, Wakefield and Coventry and defeats resulted at Bedford, Exeter, Manchester, Otley, Rotherham and Worcester. Welsh’s middle-of-the-road nature extends to points scoring where the difference between for and against is a mere five. 

Since their last home game Rugby Lions have twice lost: at Bedford where a victory was more than tangible, and at Rotherham where victory would have been unique. The team has, however, distanced itself from its poor displays in the autumn of last year and on that basis should, if it plays to its strengths, be capable of taking all four points this coming Saturday.

.