Davies' late show rescues draw for Welsh (From Richmond and Twickenham Times)

Davies' late show rescues draw for Welsh

10:33am Monday 31st October 2011 in London Welsh By Damian Dolan

Alex Davies kicked three late penalties to salvage a share of the spoils for London Welsh against the Cornish Pirates.

In the sides’ first meeting since their Championship semi-final in April, the visitors led 17-8 with first half tries from Jonny Bentley and Gant Pointer cancelling out Rob Lewis’ touch down for Welsh.

But Davies stepped up three times inside the last 12 minutes to deny the away side the points and ensure the Exiles ended a run of three consecutive defeats, although Rob Cook missed the chance to snatch victory for the Pirates at the death.

Pirates had first use of strong wind blowing towards the overlooking Pagoda and while it would take them until the end of the first quarter to unlock the Welsh defence, in that time the Exiles in turn would struggle to make against an impact in attack.

Behind a big and physical pack, Gavin Cattle was looking dangerous for the away side, sniping around the fringes, but the first chance of posts would go to the home side.

However, Gordon Ross’ attempt at the posts perfectly demonstrated the strength of the wind, as it dropped short and the Pirates were able to clear.

Instead it was left to the visitors to break the dead-lock. Bentley’s kick was straight down the throat of James Lewis, but Welsh were penalised at the breakdown and the Pirates fly half nudged the ball into the corner.

The Pirates pack got their maul rolling forwards and inched their way to within metres of the Welsh line before being brought to ground. But the danger hadn’t passed and when play was spread wide Bentley darted through a gap and just had the reach to touch down. Cook converted.

The Pirates were soon back in Welsh territory and set up a similar driving maul only to this time knock on and the Exiles countered, but the home side were finding it difficult to make substantial territorial gains.

As the first half neared its conclusion, a free kick at a Welsh put in to the scrum would lead to the visitors’ second try with Bentley this time turning provider. The fly halves’ grubber kick in behind Welsh was perfectly timed for the run of Pointer and the wing collected before crossing. Cook added the extras and the Pirates led 14-0.

Crucially, though, the home side would respond before the end of a first half in which defences had largely dominated.

Ross pushed a penalty into the corner and that was the instigator for a sustained period of pressure from the home side. Another penalty saw Welsh opt for the scrum and number eight Ed Jackson popped the ball off for Rob Lewis to burst through the tackle of Phil Burgess and touch down.

Ross’ conversion attempt came back off the right hand upright, but it was a timely score for Welsh coming from the last play of a tight and physical first half.

Welsh now had the wind at their backs, but it wasn’t quite strong enough to carry Ross’ penalty from five metres inside his own half over the Pirates’ crossbar.

However, the Welsh pack were starting to get some joy in the scrum and with the home side also trying to raise the tempo the game was beginning to open up.

Shawn Pittman made one notable half break after more good work at the breakdown by Lee Beach and offloaded nicely for Ross, but a promising move broke down when his pass meant for Will Hurrell failed to go to hand.

Welsh were looking hungry in the tackle and Cattle was forced into touch with the Exiles then awarded a penalty, which Ross fired deep into the Pirates’ 22. Quick ball off the top by Ed Jackson found Simon Whatling on the crash ball and the pressure told as Chris Morgan saw yellow and Ross stroked over the easy three points on offer.

But that good work was undone almost immediately as Cook cancelled out Ross’ kick after James Lewis was adjudged to have made a late tackle. Cook made no mistake to give the Pirates their first, and what would prove their only, points of the second half.

Thrust into the action, Davies’ first contribution was to find the centre of the posts after the Pirates – still down to 14-men - were deemed to have broken off too early from a scrum.

Good work by Martin Purdy at the restart and a penalty to Welsh later and Davies banged over another three points to close the gap to just three, just before Morgan returned to the field. Two minutes later Davies was at it again, as he stepped up for a third time to level things up and set up another tense finish for the Exiles.

The restart would be crucial but it came back the Pirates’ way, and it was they that got a shot a snatching victory at the death, as Welsh conceded a penalty just outside their 22. But from close to the lefthand touchline Cook’s radar was off target for the first time in the game and both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.

Scorers: London Welsh: Tries: Rob Lewis; Pens: Ross; Davies (3).

Cornish Pirates: Tries: Bentley, Pointer; Cons: Cook (2); Pens: Cook.

London Welsh: Edd Thrower, Will Hurrell, Hudson Tonga’uiha, Simon Whatling, James Lewis, Gordon Ross ©, Rob Lewis, Shawn Pitman, Dan George, Billy Moss, Adam Brown, Martin Purdy, Lee Beach, Mike Denbee, Ed Jackson.

Replacements: Vili Ma’asi for George (9mins), Jack Moates for Rob Lewis (65mins), Alex Davies for Ross (65mins), Greg Bateman for Moss (68mins).

Replacements not used: Sam Hill, Ceiron Thomas, Tom Kessell.

Cornish Pirates: Rob Cook, Grant Pointer, Drew Locke, Andrew Suniula, David Doherty, Jonny Bentley, Gavin Cattle ©, Carl Rimmer, Rob Elloway, Rudi Brits, Mike Myerscough, Ian Nimmo, Blair Cowan, Phil Burgess, Ben Maidment.

Replacements: Laurie McGlone for Myerscough (9mins), Dave Ward for Elloway (56mins), Chris Morgan for Cowan (56mins), Ryan Storer for Brits (71mins).

Replacements not used: Matthew Corker, Ben Russell, Ashley Smith.

Yellow cards: Morgan (60mins).

Half-time: 5-14 Referee: Cedric Marchat; Assistant referees: Philip Davies & Darryl Chapman Attendance: 1,749