Match Report, London Welsh V Old Alleynians, Jan 4th 2025

First match of the year on a decidedly chilly day, but no snow or even rain as had been forecast earlier in the week. Josh Pieterse, newly arrived at the club had his first outing and Finlay White, the Druids outside half, had his first appearance for the first team.

The Welsh kicked off but the chairman’s warning in the programme about Old Alleynians being determined and prepared to make an impression, were soon borne out. They took the game forward into the Welsh half and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which was successfully kicked. Score 0 – 3

From the restart the play became rather scrappy from both teams, with Alleynians holding Welsh off but not making much ground when they had possession. Welsh then began to put together some good attacking breaks and got to within the 22yard line from Alleynians try line. They had two lineouts which they won and formed rolling mauls , and at the second go crossed the try line for Ben Davies to score. The conversion failed. Score 5 – 3

From the restart Welsh play improved and they made several good thrusts into Alleynian territory, but were then undone by having a penalty awarded against them. It was Alleynians turn to turn a successful lineout into a rolling maul and get over the Welsh line for a try. The try was converted. Score 5 – 10

Ben Davies was substituted by Ed Couzens with Tom Douglas going to number 7 position, Andy Black going to number 6 slot and George West going to number 8; at least that’s where they positioned themselves in the scrums. Welsh had the better of the game for the next few minutes, culminating in a disallowed try. This spurred Alleynians on and they got back into the game, only for Welsh to put together some exciting running from their own half leading to Tom Douglas scoring a try. Converted by Finlay White. Score 12 – 10.

From the restart Welsh made good progress forward, but a series of mistakes and a couple of penalties against them allowed Alleynians to make it well into the Welsh half. Welsh faced a scrum only five yards from their line with Alleynians put-in, but were saved from the situation by a penalty given against Alleynians. The game went very much back and forth either side of the centre line for a few minutes until half-time was called.

Alleynians restart didn’t go well and within two minutes Welsh had a lineout only three yards from the Alleynian try line. This lineout didn’t get the job done, but moments later Welsh had another lineout in more or less the same spot and this time the Welsh rolling maul got Andy Black over the line for him to score. Not converted. Score 17 -10

Within a minute of the restart the new boy Josh Pieterse trundled off downfield in the Alleynians half but didn’t have enough pace to escape the defence. Welsh kept possession and in a melee near the Alleynian line Tom Douglas appeared with the ball to score again. Not converted. Score 22 – 10

After the restart Alleynians gained possession and made ground into the Welsh half, but gave away a penalty which enabled Welsh to move back to just over half way. Taking a scrum against the head gave Welsh the chance to progress well into the Alleynian half, and with the threequarters well into their stride now, Jacob Butler was released to score easily against a sparse defence. Converted by Finlay White. Score 29 – 10

Adam Nixon came off to be replaced by Hywel Williams, playing his fiftieth game for the Welsh. Alleynians restarted in a very determined manner and took play to within ten yards of the Welsh line, but a penalty and a couple of lineouts later Welsh were attacking in the Alleynian half. Garin Lloyd was substituted by Connor Botha. Welsh had a lineout only about eight yards from the Alleynian line and in a rather extraordinary display Sam Johnson collected the ball on the Wesh side of the lineout and ran straight through all the players to score unopposed. Not converted. Score 34 – 10

After the restart Alleynians worked their way into the Welsh half and scored from a rolling maul following a lineout. Try converted. Score 34 – 17

From the restart Welsh gained possession and laid siege to the Alleynian line – two huge charges downfield by Andy Black helped! In the end it was Tom Douglas who scored to complete his hat trick. Converted by Finlay White. Score 41 – 10

The restart was followed by play going backwards and forwards between the teams, mostly just inside the Welsh half with an extraordinary amount of time wasted getting two scrums set up to the referee’s satisfaction. As a fitting finale Welsh produced a brilliant display of running rugby  from just inside their own half, with the ball passing through many hands for Finlay White to score under the posts. Converted by Finlay White. Score 48 – 17

Josh Pieterse took the first half to gel with the team, but was well and truly settled by the second half. Tom Douglas and Byron Leach had another good game in the lineouts, either stealing Alleynian put-in or disrupting their play.

Scorers: Ben Davies, Tom Douglas (3), Andy Black, Jacob Butler, Sam Johnson, Finlay White a try and 4 conversions.

The team: 1 Josh Pieterse, 2 Garin Lloyd, 3 Sam Johnson, 4 Tom Douglas, 5 Byron Leach, 6 George West, 7 Ben Davies ©, 8 Andy Black, 9 Adam Nixon, 10 Finlay White, 11 Jacob Butler, 12 Dafydd Manley, 13 Elis Staines, 14 Harry Lang, 15 Osian McAvoy. Substitutes – Connor Botha, Ed Couzens, Hywel Williams.