By Frank Stormont
September 10 2006

London Welsh bring a much improved team to Brickfields but still go away disapointed. In a match that could have been overshadowed by the number of penalties Albion stayed in control of the match.

Albion 20

London Welsh 12

Albion stay in second place in National League One as Cornish Pirates go down to newcomers Waterloo and Doncaster shoot to top of table after 48 - 6 win at Sedgley Park.

Albion should be pleased with the result although whilst they had the run of the play they did not always take advantage of it.  The number of penalties awarded to both sides also played a part in the relatively low score at the Brickfields. London Welsh have improved tremendously since last season and are far more solid in defence and also tried to take their opportunities in attack but never made it across the whitewash.

With only 7 minutes on the clock Wihan Neethling had an opportunity to put Albion ahead, from a penalty awarded for offside, kicking into the wind he missed the posts. London Welsh decided to take the opportunity to try for goal after Ben Gulliver was judged to have gone in from the side, the wind again played it's part and the ball sails passed. 

The Walsh were the first to put points on the board with a penalty kick in the 15th minute.

In the 20th minute after Ed Barnes kicked for touch from a penalty and with the throw in on the Welsh 22, Albion played a catch and drive move down the right hand side, almost to the line.  The referee judged that the maul containing 10 Albion players was pulled down just short of the line and awarded a penalty try which Wihan easily converted.

The restart by the Welsh went straight out after Nigel Cane shouted at Tom Hayes to leave the ball resulting in a centre scrum.  The gap was narrowed when Albion gave away yet another penalty this time in front of the posts 7 - 6. The Welsh then went into the lead after a penalty on the half way line and 15 metres in from the touch line went over after. Albion were behind again for the second time in the match.

When Wihan had an opportunity on the 22 in front of the posts the ball went right.  The wind was playing an important part in the match with touch kicks being missed and kicks at goal being missed by both sides. With three minutes of extra time played Albion went into the changing rooms trailing by 7 points to 9.

On returning to the pitch with an unchanged side Albion seemed to have just that little bit more determination although both sides were still leaking penalties.  Within the first minute of the half Ed Barnes kicked the ball high into the Welsh half the ball was taken by the Welsh and passed along the line to attempt a quick counter attack. This was the first time that they looked as though they were going to cross the line but Ed sprinted across the pitch to tackle their winger into touch.

With 5 minutes gone and a penalty kick from the left hand side Wihan kicks the ball between the posts but the touch judges seemed to take an age looking at each other before first one and then both of them put their flags up to signify a goal and Albion retake the lead.

When Regadt van Eyk kicks the ball high and long from within his own half, the ball looked as though it was going to go into touch in goal, but then the ball bounced on the try line one bounce back into play before going into touch for a Welsh throw in.

Five minutes camped in the Welsh 22 and with the referee signalling advantage Martin Rice goes over the line with Tom Hayes with the try awarded to Martin. The conversion kick was low but went over the posts to bring the score to 17 to 9.

Federico Genoud came on for Brett Stroud in the 21st minute both players were given a hearty round of applause. Yet another penalty saw London Welsh kicking into the wind from the 22 with the ball just skimming the right hand upright before going over for another 3 points to them. 

In the third minute of injury time Keni Fisilau was relieved of his duties when David Delaney came on into the fly half position with Ed Barnes moving out to inside centre.

As far as Albion were concerned the match almost finished at had started with a driving maul from the Welsh 22 almost to the line before an infringement gave Albion a penalty. But with time gone Wihan went back 15 metres or so to reduce the angle and popped it between the posts to finish the match and take away the bonus point from London Welsh.

 

The result was never in any real doubt although supporters must have got just that little bit worried when Albion went off the pitch down by two points. Kicking by both sides was adversely affected by the wind that although it looked as if it was constant, was in fact gusty and moved around almost giving a swirl affect. Six foot seven prop Colin Stewart was awarded man of the match  by ball sponsors ATN and received his bottle of gin.  He was heard to say that he does not drink gin but he knows someone who does!

 

Martin Rice

Richard Oxley

Scott Zimmerman

Colin Stewart

Ben Gulliver

Brett Stroud

Danny Thomas

Tom Hayes

Nigel Cane

Ed Barnes

Nic Sestaret

Keni Fisilau

Regardt Van Eyk

Ed Lewsey

Wihan Neethling

David Delaney

Nat Saumi

Arran Cruickshanks

Tim Mathias

James Owen

Federico Genoud

Chris Lowrie

Bench

More Photos at PHOTO ALBUM