Recap

Promotion from London 1 South was within touching distance as the match against Hammersmith & Fulham headed into the final minutes but the determination of our visitors earned them two well deserved bonus points and put celebrations on hold. And so next Saturday our 1st XV travel to Farnham knowing that two league points will be enough to confirm one of the three automatic promotion spots. That said, Welsh are taking nothing for granted!

Although Farnham’s visit to London Welsh ended with a 34-10 home win by five tries to two, the first half was less comfortable with Welsh taking a 14-5 lead into the break. Farnham’s form shows that again nothing can be taken for granted this time. Their high scoring victories against London Cornish (85-15),Hammersmith & Fulham (49-7) proved their ability in attack and they turned around a 50-10 defeat to Chichester earlier in the season to a 24-17 win at home last time out.

Ahead of Welsh’s first ever trip to Farnham’s Wilkinson Way (at 1st XV level), the top of the table remains tight with Camberley in pole position to finish as Champions. London Welsh and Medway remain in the running though, but only if Camberley slip up away to Medway on 9th April or at home to Hammersmith & Fulham on 23rd April then there could be some anxious scouring of the tie-break rules. 

London Welsh passed the 100 try mark during the Hammersmith & Fulham game. Paolo Peschisolido remains top of the club’s try scorer list with a personal tally of nine whilst Tom Hunt is just two behind him and hot on the try trail. Black, Buncle and Butler sit on six each and Sion Cowdy sits just below that on five. 

Welsh are now finally returning to a much fuller squad with further players now having returned from injury. Welsh will nake.the trip to Farnham with the closest that we have seen to a full squad since November. There is a notable return for Sion Cowdy after 3 months on the sidelines and he will be pushing for a starting spot in the back 3. There are also returns for Will Ponty in the second row and Matt Pollen in the centre after missing round 21 with injury. The long term absentees who remain on the sidelines are: Jack Burnett (broken hand out for the season), Matt Williams, Rhys Howells (knee), Tim Ross (shoulder). Welsh will be without Ben West for Round 22, who is unavailable for selection.

Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm. London Welsh supporters can book in for the pre-match lunch by emailing geoff.robins@btinternet.com. The cost is £20.