Saturday 5th September 2009
Old Laurentians 2nds 11 v
Rugby Welsh 29
Rugby Welsh produced an excellent team performance against a strong Old Laurentians 2nd team at Fenley Field on Saturday. OLs started the game well with their experienced pack winning plenty of early possession which resulted in Welsh conceding an early three points for offside in front of their posts. Welsh then went further behind when some loose play enabled the OLs backs to kick through and win the chase to the touch down for an unconverted try. However Welsh responded very well and from a five metre scrum drove OLs off their own ball and Phil Tipping forced his way over from close range for Wade to convert. The Welsh pack began to win some quick ball with Pete Head and Danny Humphreys excelling in the loose. A powerful run from Captain Adam Bond set up good field position and from another strong scrum fly half Daz Wade dummied his way through the OLs midfield for a converted try.
The Welsh started the 2nd half well with their forwards winning more good possession which allowed the Welsh backs to make ground into the OLs 22- and forced them to concede a penalty which Wade converted to extend the lead. OLs responded with three points when Welsh were forced to concede a penalty in their own half. OLs tried to get back into the game by keeping the ball tight with their large pack, however the Welsh defence was very solid throughout. Welsh took control of the game in the last 20 minutes when Bond made another break and fed scrum half Jamie Cranham who made ground into the home side’s 22. OLs were again forced to slow the Welsh ball illegally, and from the resulting quick tapped penalty Cranham sent Wade crashing over for a converted score. Welsh secured victory when more good work at the ruck from outstanding debutant Ian Whitcoft and Jim Gurling enabled Tipping to break several tackles and pass inside to the supporting Humphreys to score in the corner.
Welsh can be very pleased with an excellent first win of the season against strong opponents, and eagerly look forward to the upcoming Midlands 4 West campaign. Welsh are in action this Saturday in a Pool fixture to be confirmed.