Match Report

London Welsh Druids continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 60-7 victory over HAC 2nd XV.

The Druids started the better of the two teams, creating several half chances within in the first few minutes, but they led to knock ons.

On the twelve minute mark however, Welsh got their first try of the match. Welsh counter rucked against HAC and won the ball. From there, a big carry from full back, Sion Cowdy led to fly half, Dylan Casella scoring a walkover try. With the conversion added, the Druids had a 7-0 lead.

Welsh had the chance to score a second just minutes later. From a line out in the 22, the Druids dominate a maul, which led to Welsh spreading it wide. But, winger Deiniol Jones dropped the ball just before the try line in what would’ve been a good, well worked try.

Ten minutes later, Welsh scored their second try. The home team had a scrum on the half way line. From there they created a series of good, patient phases in the 22, thanks to a strong carry from Cowdy. Eventually, a space opened up, and Cowdy scored in the corner. The extras were missed, to make it 12-0 Druids.

Minutes later, HAC responded with a try of their own. From a box kick, they won a high ball, and taking advantage of a slow scramble defence, managed to score in the corner. The conversion was added to make it 12-7.

In the 33rd minute, the Druids scored their third try of the match. An HAC penalty didn’t find touch, and led to a counter attack, again, started by Cowdy. Welsh again found themselves in the 22, and after patient play, and good initial defence from HAC, eventually score under the posts through captain Adan Cole. Casella added the conversion to make it 19-7.

Welsh scored their bonus point try five minutes before half time through Tim Ross. An HAC line out led to them spreading it wide. A grubber kick didn’t have enough power to find touch and was picked up by Cowdy, who was excellent throughout the match. From the pick up, a series of quick passes led to Ross scoring over the white line. The extras were missed. 24-7.

A minute before half time the Druids got another. A line out on the half way line was smartly played short, and led to a break away, and a simple pass for birthday boy, Tan Chabata meant that he scored a walk in try. The extras were missed, to give Welsh a 29-7 lead at half time.

Welsh’s brilliant form in the first half continued, with a try within the first five minutes of the second half. Welsh won the ball from a lineout, and from there, and thanks to a few productive phases, the ball was spread out wide for Cowdy, who brilliantly beat two defenders with some excellent footwork, the full back broke a few tackles and scored his second of the match. With the extras added, the Druids had a 36-7 lead.

Twelve minutes later, the Druids scored another through Sam Mahoney. A line out from a penalty led to a quick series of passes and good metres made. Once deep in the 22, and just outside the try line, the pass is made to the Butcher, who crashed over just outside the posts. The extras were missed to make it 41-7.

With fifteen minutes to go in the game, the Druids scored their seventh try of the match. Welsh won a line out on their own 22. They countered thanks to a break away from Adan Cole, who thanks to a simple pass, led to Alex Tanant scoring under the posts, Extras added, 48-7.

Minutes later, Welsh got another. They won a line out in the HAC 22. From there, they spread it wide thanks to an overlap, with winger Deiniol Jones scoring in the corner. The conversion was missed. 53-7.

With ten minutes to go, Sion Cowdy scored his hat trick. The man of the match found a bit of space and broke away, missing a few tackles in the process and dived over the line. Casella scored the conversion to make the final score 60-7.