Win snatched away in added time
The day began badly when John Cannon failed a fitness test on the morning of the match. Joe Van Den Berg stepped in at centre to make his debut with Steve Meyer going on the bench. The game started badly too, as Glen Kenworthy left the field in the first minute with a cut eye and almost immediately the home side had the perfect start when flanker Matt Fitzgerald dived over in the corner for a try that had to be given by the touch judge, which former Harrogate fly half Lee Cholewa converted from wide out. John Benson reduced the arrears with a penalty from a tackle infringement but midfield stalemate was the fare mid first half before Welsh grabbed the initiative after 25 minutes. Loose midfield ball was won and an attack mounted on the Doncaster line, but after the initial surge had apparently been repelled, Fitzgerald found a gap to dive over for his second try. From the restart, obstruction gave Benson another shot at goal which he took with ease and this saw a strong period for Doncaster begin and two good tries were scored to give an interval lead. First, the backs put several phases together, with Jon Boden and Donavan Van Vuuren prominent, and when Ryan Peacey set up a ruck on the right, fast ball left saw Van Vuuren sore in the left corner. Benson’s conversion hit the post. On the stroke of half time, Brad hunt’s tackle caused turnover ball in midfield which the pack took to the Welsh line before quick transfer right saw Michael Wood finish coolly in the corner.
A speculative kick ahead just after the break saw Charlie Harrison caught in possession. He conceded turnover ball and fast movement across the backs saw full back Gareth Swales in the line to score wide out. Cholewa added the valuable extras and Welsh were back in front. Benson and Cholewa then exchanged further penalties before Benson tied the scores with his fourth on the hour and the game was either sides for the taking. Doncaster thought they had won it when Wood cut a lovely angle off Van Vuuren’s run to score with just over 10 minutes to play; and Benson’s failure to convert from 20 metres wide of the posts was to cost them dearly. Three minutes into added time, a Welsh line out on half way produced quick ball and one last attack was set up. A chip over a flat defence saw a chase to the line just won by winger Tim Holgate to tie the scores. Cholewa couldn’t add the winning extras. Even then, there was one last chance for the visitors as a penalty was awarded around halfway, but Jon Boden couldn’t take advantage and the whistle went for the draw. Welsh were the happier side as their four tries won them a bonus point, their fifth of the season to Doncaster’s one, but Welsh remain bottom as Doncaster have won one game more. It was another frustrating afternoon for Pieter Muller’s men. Another game they could have won. Next week another away game, this time in the Cup in Cornwall at Redruth.
London Welsh: G Swales, J Swords, A Cadwallader, A Bidwell (D Hayward 68), T Holgate, L Cholewa, O Walbyoff (R Shaw 51), J Masters, C Ritchie (A Tauialo 67), C Hannon (S Millard 61), H Quigley, J Pettermides, M Fitzgerald, R Woods, P Cox.
Doncaster: J Boden, D Van Vuuren, B Hunt, J Van Den Berg, M Wood, J Benson, C Harrison (L Lane 58), S Bunting (R List 56), S Boden (S Plevey 78), N Tau (D Young 65), G Kenworthy (O Cook 1), D Cook, R Earnshaw, R Peacey, D Montagu.
Referee: G Aston-Jones (RFU) |
