London Welsh get a much needed emphatic win against Bracknell

By Joe Acklam

26th Oct 2022 | Rugby


London Welsh pick up a bonus point victory to climb up the table. Photo: London Welsh.
London Welsh pick up a bonus point victory to climb up the table. Photo: London Welsh.

London Welsh got back to winning ways with a 45-15 bonus point victory over Bracknell, which saw the Exiles move up to eighth in the table.

Several key players returned from injury including winger Sion Cowdy who had injured his shoulder in the game against Wimbledon a few weeks prior, as well as taking part in international duty with Ireland 7s.

After some early pressure in the first few minutes, Welsh finally scored the first try of the afternoon through Osian McAvoy.

A scrum in the opposition's twenty two led to a big carry from Lima Savaiinaea. One phase later, there was an overlap, and the ball was offloaded to McAvoy who broke a tackle and scored. Dafydd Manley missed the extras.

Five minutes later, Osian McAvoy scored his second of the afternoon. Welsh had possession on the ten metre line. An overlap was created on the blindside, where the ball was offloaded to the fly half who scored in the corner. Manley added the extras.

Minutes later, Welsh got their third try through Sion Cowdy. The Exiles had possession on the ten metre line with a scrum. The ball was offloaded to the winger who drifted from the wing to the centre of the pitch, before finding a gap and dancing through several tackles, the Irish winger finished brilliantly under the posts, with Manley adding two more to the score. Welsh were in control.

London Welsh had the bonus point all wrapped up mid-way through the first half. Welsh had a lineout on the ten metre line. After a few phases of possession where the Exiles broke through the gain line, a hard, cut out pass was directed towards Ewan Gully. A sprint race was on between the centre and the fullback, which Gully won with ease to score under the posts. The conversion was added.

McAvoy scored his hattrick two minutes later. After a series of attacking phases deep in Bracknell's 22, the fly half collected the ball and muscled his over to collect the match ball. Hanley added the extras.

On the brink of half time, London Welsh scored their sixth try of the afternoon, and Ewan Gully's second of the afternoon with an interception try from the halfway line to dot down under the posts. Manley's successful conversion made the half time score 40-0.

Bracknell started the second half the better of the two teams scoring a couple of tries midway through the second half but failed to make either conversion, in what was a relatively scrappy final forty minutes.

However, London Welsh did score their seventh try of the afternoon with eight minutes left through Sion Cowdy.

The Exiles won a penalty and kicked to the corner. A rolling maul was well defended by the opposition and brought down just before the try line. Patient phase play eventually led to a flat pass out wide for the winger who dived over in the corner. Manley missed the extras.

Bracknell responded with a consolation try right at the death but missed the conversion to make the final score 45-15.

London Welsh's next game is away to Banbury, this Saturday, while their next home game is two weeks later at home to Camberley.

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Action from the match. Pictures by Tim Anger.
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