Two bonus points were Esher’s meagre reward from their trip to Richmond as they slid further into trouble.
They beat London Welsh back in October, when the Richmond-based side were still attempting to find their feet after promotion, but since then the fortunes of the two sides have contrasted sharply.
Both want to avoid sinking into an end-of-season battle to avoid the bottom three and it was London Welsh who ended the day looking that much safer after a fifth victory in seven outings while Es remain in danger of a second drop in as many seasons after just two wins out of the last 12.
New supremo Mike Brown continues to make changes, taking over the head coach’s role from long-serving Chris Wilkins, but will be looking to see a turnaround in results soon, preferably when Guernsey visit Molesey Road on Saturday for a 2pm start.
Welsh started started brightly on a blustery day at Old Deer Park, wing Dylan Jones going over wide on the right for an unconverted score after five minutes.
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But their advantage was wasted within moments of the restart, poor handling enabling skipper Pierre Thompson to touch down, Owen Waters adding the extras.
It typified Esher’s campaign that they should concede again immediately, fly-half Matt Hodgson – who had an outstanding afternoon – feeding flanker Rhydian George for an unopposed run to the line and then adding the conversion.
It was soon level in hectic first quarter, Es sucking in their opponents before unleashing James Botterill to gallop over on the left for his 14th try of the campaign – even more praiseworthy given how much he has missed through injuries – but the conversion drifted wide to leave it 12-12.
The visitors were back ahead on 22 as a smart offload sent over prop Conor Ganley, Waters converting and the advantage holding until the interval.
Es were to pay dearly for fly-half Oscar Yandall being sent to the sinbin five minutes after the restart, Welsh taking advantage in a fine rolling maul which enabled Garin Lloyd to touch down before Hodgson made it all square again.
The hosts went decisively in front after 58 minutes, a fine all-round move rounded off by centre Daf Manley setting up scrum-half Hywel Williams for their fourth try.
Esher too secured their fourth, Botterill’s pace down the flank again crucial as he claimed his second of the day, although the conversion was missed.
Jones’s chip ahead to set up full-back Osain McAvoy effectively secured victory for Welsh, a stray pass which might have earned Es a reprieve flying instead into the crowd, although at least the tightness of the result earned that second bonus point, which could yet prove crucial.
Games to come – January 31: Guernsey (H); February 14: Barnes (A); 21: Henley (H); 28: Dorking (A); March 14: Albanians (H); 21: Oundle (A); April 11: Oxford Harlequins (H); 18: Canterbury (A); 25: Sevenoaks (A).
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