Saturday 12th September 2009
Rugby Welsh 60 V
Earlsdon III 12
Rugby Welsh produced another excellent performance in warm conditions- against an experienced Earlsdon side at Alwyn road on Saturday. Welsh started well with the forwards winning some early possession and opened the scoring when after several phases of play Matty Richards drove over from close range for Daz Wade to convert. The Welsh pack continued to impress in the opening quarter with new signing Karl Lawson and Pate Head making some strong runs. Welsh soon extended their lead when good interplay between the forwards enabled scrum-hlaf Jamie Cranham to score in the corner. Immediately after , a powerful break from Lawson sent Cranham over for his 2nd try converted by Wade. With Captain Adam bond unavailable Danny Large was given the honour of leading the side and was excellent in the line out and loose play throughout the afternoon. Welsh went further ahead when Welsh stole an Earlsdon lineout on their line and Matty Richards scored his 2nd try. Earlsdon responded just before half time after a poor clearance was ran back into the Welsh 22 by ex Coventry full back Richard Gee and Earlsdon scored from close range from the resulting ruck.
Earlsdon added a converted try after the break after some strong driving play from their large forwards. However Welsh stepped up a gear once more with the forwards working very hard to produce quick ball for the backs. Good runs from Rob Haddock and Ian Whitcroft led to quick tries for winger Andy Salisbury and full back James Buckland. Centre Andy Bayliss then gathered a chip ahead to score under the posts to put Welsh in complete control. With the Earlsdon side tiring Buckland sent Salisbury over for another well worked try. The Welsh scrum was once again dominant and this enabled Cranham to send the hard working Danny Humphreys over in the corner. Buckland completed a good win when he returned a poor clearance to score under the posts for Wade to add the extra points.
Welsh have started the season very well and look forward to entertaining St Andrews 2nds at Alwyn road on Saturday ko 3pm.