Recap

Match Report

London Welsh continued their winning start to the season with a 36-12 victory over KCS Old Boys in Round 7. The bonus point WIN took Welsh 6 points clear at the top of the league.

However, Welsh far from had the match all their own way as an impressive and organised KCS side caused significant problems during periods of the game.

Welsh welcomed back most of the long term injury list for this match with: Tom Williams, Sion Cowdy, Ben West and Will Ponty all starting after extended periods on the sidelines. This indeed is very likely the strongest side that Welsh have fielded this season to date, that indeed told during the game as Welsh looked dazzling at times and were comfortable winners come the final whistle.

Welsh got off to the perfect start just five minutes into the match, thanks to a penalty try. After winning a penalty, the home side went for touch. From there, a fantastic maul was too much for KCS, as Welsh were creeping closer and closer to the try line. Old Boys’ only option was to bring down the maul illegally, which meant that the referee had no choice but to award the penalty try.

Eight minutes later, the Exiles got another through Adam Nixon. Welsh won a line out deep in the 22, thanks to a grubber kick, which Welsh chased well. From the ball, Nixon picked and went, and thanks to a dummy pass, and a good side step, the scrum half scored a walk over try, and his first at Old Deer Park. Lloyd Davies missed the conversion. 12-0.

On the seventeen minute mark, the home side scored their third try through Sion Cowdy. Winger Paolo Peschisolido intercepted a KCS pass and quickly laid it off for Cowdy, whose pace was too much for the opposition full back and Cowdy scored just outside the posts. That was Cowdy’s fourth try in two matches, after scoring a hat trick for the Druids last weekend. Davies added the extras, 19-0.

Welsh did have the opportunity to add to their lead mid way through the first half, but all of their chances were well defended by KCS.

On the 36th minute however, Welsh got their bonus point try. Welsh had a scrum just five metres from the try line. Nixon quickly passed the ball to Tom Hunt, and the winger muscled his was to the try line directly from the pass off the base of the scrum. Davies’ conversion made it 26-7.

On the brink of half time, KCS got their first try of the game. Old Boys had a scrum in the Welsh 22, and thanks to an overlap, scored in the corner. With the extras slotted over, it meant that the half time score was 26-7 in favour of the home team.

Six minutes after the break, Welsh got their fifth try of the game. The home team attacked a maul well in the 22, which again, KCS struggled to defend. Hooker, Jack Burnett eventually crashed over the white line. Davies missed the extras. 31-7.

KCS had an opportunity to score another after a series of phases, and penalties, deep in the Welsh 22, but, the Exiles defended well and held the ball up at the try line, and were eventually able to deal with the away teams’ pressure.

Eight minutes before full time, the Exiles got another. KCS won the ball from a Welsh attacking maul in the 22. They tried to counter attack, but thanks to good pressure from the Dragons, and a wayward pass, the home team picked the ball up, and replacement Osian McAvoy scored in the corner. Davies missed the conversion. 36-7.

On the brink of full time, KCS get their second try of the contest. The extras were missed to make the final score 36-12.

A fantastic game of running rugby brought the best that the London Welsh faithful has seen out of the side this term. A blistering 1st 40 was not quite matched in the 2nd half but the side are now showing the signs of benefiting from a more settled and regular line up.

Having used over 40 players in the first 7 games DoR Cai Griffiths now seems to be settling on his match day squad. There were some excllent performances for the crowd of nearing 700 and it was pleasing to see Captain Tom Williams get his first start in the Red Jersey. Sion Cowdy on his return to the first team from a spell injured and rehab with the Druids, showed what a class act he is on the wing and what he can do with the ball in hand at almost 6’5 in height!

Nixon at 9 was impressive again as he brought all of his national league experience to the fore. An excellent display again from Jack Anderson and also Mr consitant Rohan Pixley.

Man of the match though went to the not so gentle giant Andy Black in the front row. A dominat scrummaging performance combined with dynamic running that proved too hot for the KCS defence on a number of occasions.

KCS were very impressive though in this game and stand testimony to the step up in quality that Welsh have experienced in the move to London 1. KCS will cause all of the leading sides in the league problems and the return leg will be a tough endeavour. Thank you to the travelling KCS supporters for helping may the matchday experience at Old Deer Park so special, as always. Also a big thanks to BBCs Chris Jones for his attendance and for speaking at the pre match Patrons lunch.

Welsh now move to a break week and look forward to a return to ODP for Round 9 and a top of the table crunch match against second place (and also unbeaten) Medway. With the squad now all but at full strength, Welsh approach the match on the 6th of November in excellent shape for what will no doubt prove a crucial game come the end of the season!

Match Att. 671

Tries: Pen, Tom Hunt, Sion Cowdy, Adam Nixon, Osian McAvoy

Con: McAvoy x 3

 

Gallery

Match Preview

 

We offer a very warm welcome to KCS Old Boys for Round 7 of the league season. KCS start the week in fifth place with four wins and two losses and have secured further league points for scoring four tries in two of their games. A closer look at the KCS’ opening fixtures shows an impressive beginning to the season with five of their six games being against teams in the top eight and the two losses coming from away games at Medway (30-0) and Chichester (22-12), currently second and third in the league respectively.

KCS was founded in 1907 for the old boys of King’s College School in Wimbledon. When their old clubhouse at Robin Hood Way burnt down in the late 1980s they settled at their current location in Motspur Park in 1992.

An unbeaten 2018/9 season of 22 bonus point wins earned KCS promotion from London 2 South West and was followed by a very respectable 9th place in London 1 South at the end of the following campaign.

London Welsh remain unbeaten in the league, most recently securing a bonus point win over Camberley thanks to a try each for Tom Hunt, Paolo Peschisolido and Jack Burnett plus a Penalty Try; Osian McAvoy adding the 2 conversions and 1 penalty.

Welsh have had a fair share of injury problems in the opening 7 rounds and the update is as follows as the side returns to almost full stength: Former London Welsh Premiership man Ben West returns from concussion protocol and is fit for selection. However, Welsh 7s man and stand in 1st XV Captain (in the long term absence of Club Captain Chris Lilly) Luke Crocker is out for a number of weeks following the shoulder injury that forced him off after only 40 mins at Camberley. In addition, James Buncle is away on International Duty with Norway and fellow front rowers Ollie Fulljames and Jonny Miles remain sidelined. Club Captain Chris Lilly is also yet to feature this season but the former Ireland u20 is nearing Match fitness and should feature in November. Wales u19 Centre Rhys Howells underwent surgery 2 weeks ago for his foot nerve damage but we hope to see him back before the new year. Finally, Second Row Ben Watts is still struggling with a foot and ankle issue.

Despite the above the squad is in rude health: new signing Griff Whitson (Durham BUCS Super Rugby Winner, Newport Gwent Dragon and England Student) went well last week on debut and is hungry for more. Welsh Premiership recruit Will ponty and former CS Stags Captain Tom Williams both made returns (and their debut) to action last week and were impressive.

Top try scorer Paolo Peschisolido made a try scoring return on the weekend having been rested in Round 5.

6’5 Winger Sion Cowdy (Welsh Academicals) returned last weekend for the Druids 2nd XV and bagged a hattrick to bring himself into immmeduate contention.

The remainder of the outstanding squad from the first 6 rounds also remains fit. Needless to say, competition is very high and selection incredibly difficult.

The pick of the other games in the league this weekend has to be Chichester v Medway. Just three points separate them and they both have a game in hand over London Welsh and the three teams below them. The full list of London 1 South fixtures is:

Chichester v Medway

Farnham v London Irish Wild Geese

Guildford v Hammersmith & Fulham

Horsham v Cobham

London Cornish v Camberley

London Welsh v KCS Old Boys

Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm. The Club bars open from 10am with hot food available. The Pre Match lunch event begins at 12.45 with entertainment and special guests.

ADMISSION TO THE GAME REMAINS FREE!