Lyn Jones had asked his players to finish on a high and that’s exactly what they did, as London Welsh said goodbye to the Premiership with their first bonus-point win of the league season.
What the Exiles wouldn’t have given for such a five-point haul a few weeks ago to keep them in the survival hunt, but that was not to be.
Championship rugby awaits next season – the club’s fate already sealed – but last Saturday was an opportunity for both players and supporters alike to acknowledge each other’s unwavering and wholehearted efforts over the course of a whirlwind and challenging season.
Dan Caprice gave Welsh the perfect start. Released by Rob Lewis’ flat pass, the winger burst through the smallest of gaps before hitting the afterburners, rounding Ben Howard and touching down in the corner.
Ross added the extras before the winger was again terrorising Worcester with his pace. No finish in the corner this time, but a pull back off the ball by Neil Best on Welsh centre Seb Stegmann, as he tried to get up in support of Caprice, was spotted by the officials and Best despatched to the sin bin. The first of the afternoon’s five yellow cards.
The Exiles took immediate advantage. Ross pushed the resulting penalty into the corner and the home side’s pack found little resistance to drive over. Alfie To’oala the last man up with the ball. Again Ross added the extras and Welsh led 14-0 after just seven minutes.
The home side were looking very determined to indeed end on a winning note – a point exemplified by one huge hit by To’oala.
But Worcester were given a way back into the game when Daniel Browne saw yellow after a quick tap penalty by Jonny Arr. The Welsh flanker not retreating ten metres.
Worcester, though, couldn’t emulate what Welsh had done at the other end. The away side went for the catch and drive, but found the Welsh defence in determined mood and they were held up over the tryline. Greg Bateman the man putting his body on the line.
From the resulting five-metre scrum, Welsh forced the Warriors back and eventually got the penalty with away side holding on in the tackle, after great work by Rob Lewis.
A Ross penalty increased the home side’s lead and Browne returned to the fray with no damage done on the scoreboard in his absence.
But the home side generously gave their visitors another chance at playing against 14-men when second row Kirill Kulemin then saw yellow for a punch.
This time Worcester would take advantage of their numerical numbers to build up a head of steam, but some stout London Welsh defence in their own 22 forced the Warriors and Goode to settle for penalty.
Ross became Welsh’s third yellow card of the half – crossing paths with Kulemin as the big lock returned from his ten minutes in the bin. Goode couldn’t make Welsh pay further, though, as his penalty came back off the posts to leave the Exiles well in control at the break.
And the home side tightened its grip on proceedings just four minutes into the second half as the Welsh pack drove up to the Worcester line and Tom Arscott went over from close range.
The full back couldn’t add the extras in Ross’ absence, but the home side were almost out of sight and once again Ross returned with no harm done on the scoreboard. Indeed, Welsh’s three sinbinnings had yielded a solitary Goode penalty for Worcester.
Ross added his second penalty but from the restart came the game’s champagne moment, as Welsh ran the kick off back. The home side worked the ball wide to Nick Scott and the winger left three in his wake as he raced home from 75 metres for a stunning try.
It then became the Josh Drauniniu show. The former Welsh winger intercepting a Ross pass before to cross, before then bursting through to add a second moments later in a casual style all too familiar to London Welsh supporters.
Goode added both conversions and the home side still had work to do to see this one out, with their lead suddenly cut to 13 points.
Determined not throw the game away, Ross took a simple three points when the chance came along with Chris Jones having become yellow card recipient number five, meaning Jake Abbott’s late effort was little more than a consolation.
For Welsh, it was a nice way to sign off from the Aviva Premiership.
London Welsh:
Tries: Caprice, To’oala, Arscott, Scott; Cons: Ross (2); Pens: Ross (3).
Worcester Warriors:
Tries: Drauniniu (2), Abbott; Cons: Goode (2); Pens: Goode.
London Welsh: Tom Arscott, Dan Caprice, Seb Stegmann, James Lewis, Nick Scott, Gordon Ross (C), Rob Lewis, Tom Bristow, Greg Bateman, Arthur Joly, Kirill Kulemin, Matt Corker, Daniel Browne, Lee Beach, Alfie To’oala.
Replacements: Joe Ajuwa for Caprice (35mins), Julio Cabello Farias for To’oala (h-t), Adam Brown for Kulemin (59mins), James Tideswell for Joly (60mins), Alex Davies for Rob Lewis (68mins), Mike Denbee for Beach (68mins), Billy Moss for Bristow (69mins), Dan George for Bateman (69mins).
Yellow cards: Browne (14mins), Kulemin (29mins), Ross (39mins).
Worcester Warriors: Chris Pennell, Josh Drauniniu, Andy Short, Alex Grove, Ben Howard, Andy Goode, Jonny Arr, Matt Mullan, Ed Shervington, Euan Murray, James Percival (C), Chris Jones, Neil Best, Sam Betty, Richard de Carpentier.
Replacements: Danny Gray for Short (65mins), Jake Abbott for Betty (65mins), Sean Schofield for Percival (66mins), Paul Hodgson for Arr (66mins), John Andress for Murray (66mins).
Replacements not used: Aleki Lutui, Rob O’Donnell, Max Stelling.
Yellow cards: Best (6mins), Jones (67mins).
Half-time: 17-3
Referee: Matthew Carley
Referee Assistants: Paul Dix & Stuart Terheege
Full-time: London Welsh 33-22 Worcester
80+1min: TRY London Welsh 33-22 Worcester (Abbott)
Nice offload and Abbott is over after a period of Worcester pressure in the Welsh 22
76min: PEN London Welsh 33-17 Worcester (Ross)
75min: Welsh penalty. They opt for the posts....
72min: Welsh five metre scrum.....
71min: Yellow card Worcester Jones
68min: Welsh on the attack again...breka by Arscott and he has Rob Lewis in support. It leads to a Welsh scrum after a Worcester hand knocks on
66min: Ross hits the post!
65min: Breaks by Beach and Ajuwa and it eventually leads to a penalty....
59min: CON London Welsh 30-17 Worcester (Goode)
58min: TRY London Welsh 30-15 Worcester (Drauniniu)
...and he's over again!
57min: CON London Welsh 30-10 Worcester (Goode)
57min: TRY London Welsh 30-8 Worcester (Drauniniu)
The former Welsh winger has a clear run in....
55min: TRY London Welsh 30-3 Worcester (Scott)
Scott sprints up the left hand touch line and dives over in the corner!
54min: PEN London Welsh 25-3 Worcester (Ross)
52min: Ajuwa break and Arscott is away, but Worcester turn it over and Goode finds touch. From the lineout it's a Welsh penalty. Ross for the posts....
51min: Worcester drive up to the Welsh 22, but that's a good counter drive and Welsh even get the penalty. Just as Ross comes back onto the field
48min: De Carpentier looks away, but is pulled back for some blocking. Welsh penalty
45min: TRY London Welsh 22-3 Worcester (Arscott)
The forwards pick and drive up to the line. They go down the short side and Arscott goes over from close range
43min: Penalty to Welsh after Ajuwa crashed up the middle. Arscott to the corner. Catch and drive....
3:28pm: Arscott gets the second half started
Half-time: London Welsh 17-3 Worcester
40+4min: Goode's kick comes back off the post
40+3min: Kulemin is back on as Ross goes off! That's Welsh's third yellow card of the half!
40+3min: Yellow card London Welsh (Ross)
41min: PEN London Welsh 17-3 Worcester (Goode)
40min: That looked like a really good double tackle by Ross and Rob Lewis, but it's a penalty to the visitors
37min: Good break by Rob Lewis, but Worcester back on the attack and they have a penalty as Rob Lewis goes offside and they kick into the Welsh 22
37min: Joly rips the ball out of the tackle to stop that Worcester attack
33min: Yellow card London Welsh (Kulemin)
28min: Browne back on for Welsh
25min: PEN London Welsh 17-0 Worcester (Ross)
24min: Kickable penalty conceded by Worcester on the floor. Ross for goal....
23min: Arr makes a sniping break but he's well tackled by Arscott and Welsh turn it over, but then kick dead. Drop out Worcester
21min: Penalty to Worcester, though, as Welsh this time hold on in the tackle
20min: Rob Lewis' up and under is knocked on by Worcester in their own 22 under no pressure
19min: Penalty to Welsh as Worcester hold on in the tackle - Rob Lewis takes the pats on the back from his Welsh teammates. Ross to touch
18min: They put it in the corner and catch and drive. They're over but it's held up. Scrum five to Worcester
17min: Yellow card London Welsh (Browne)
Penalty to Worcester. They take it quickly and Browne sees yellow
15min: Big hit by To'oala - Welsh seemed determined to end on a real high here. Really taking the game to Worcester
10min: CON London Welsh 14-0 Worcester (Ross)
9min: TRY London Welsh 12-0 Worcester (To'oala)
The forwards take it on and rumble over the line! What a start!
7min: Yellow card Worcester (Neil Best)
The flanker pulls back Stegman off the ball after another break by Caprice
5min: CON London Welsh 7-0 Worcester (Ross)
4min: TRY London Welsh 5-0 Worcester (Caprice)
Turnover ball. Worcester spill it and James Lewis dives on it. Welsh go wide and what a turn of pace by Caprice and he's over in the corner! Great start for Welsh
2:30pm: Andy Goode gets us underway here
2:29pm: London Welsh take to field at the Kassam for the final time this season in the Premiership, led by captain Gordon Ross
2.29pm: James Percivalleads out today's visitors Worcester Warriors
2:20pm: Team news
London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones makes six changes for today's game. In the backs, James Lewis replaces the injured Sonny Parker at inside centre, while Rob Lewis comes in at scrum half for Tyson Keats.
There’s one change in the front row with Arthur Joly named at tighthead in place of Paulica Ion, while it’s all change in the back row.
Daniel Browne moves to blindside flanker, with Alfie To’oala taking over the number eight jersey. Lee Beach, who has already announced his retirement from professional rugby at the end of the season, comes into the side at openside flanker in place of Michael Hills.
For Worcester, Richard de Carpentier will make his Aviva Premiership debut.The number eight, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Tuesday, will line-up alongside Sam Betty and Neil Best in the back row after impressing during this season’s LV= Cup.
De Carpentier is one of three changes to the team which faced Harlequins last time out as Andy Short and Sam Betty are recalled to the side.
Short will start at inside centre for his final game for Warriors before he moves to Bristol at the end of the season whilst Betty starts his first match since February.
Ben Howard retains his place on the wing after an encouraging full Premiership debut two weekends ago.
The clash will also see Andy Goode and Matt Mullan making their final starts for the club before they leave at the end of the season.
Academy wing Max Stelling is named as a replacement and will make his Aviva Premiership debut if he comes on. Dean Schofield and Paul Hodgson are also recalled to the bench.
LONDON WELSH: 15. Tom Arscott, 14. Dan Caprice, 13. Seb Stegmann, 12. James Lewis, 11. Nick Scott, 10. Gordon Ross (C), 9. Rob Lewis, 1. Tom Bristow, 2. Greg Bateman, 3. Arthur Joly, 4. Matt Corker, 5. Kirill Kulemin, 6. Daniel Browne, 7. Lee Beach, 8. Alfie To'oala.
Replacements: 16. Dan George, 17. James Tideswell, 18. Billy Moss, 19. Adam Brown, 20. Julio Cabello Farias, 21. Mike Denbee, 22. Alex Davies, 23. Joe Ajuwa.
WORCESTER WARRIORS: 15. Chris Pennell, 14. Josh Drauniniu, 13. Andy Short, 12. Alex Grove, 11. Ben Howard, 10. Andy Goode, 9. Jonny Arr, 1. Matt Mullan, 2. Ed Shervington, 3. Euan Murray, 4. James Percival (C), 5. Chris Jones, 6. Neil Best, 7. Sam Betty, 8. Richard de Carpentier.
Relacements: 16. Aleki Lutui, 17. Rob O’Donnell, 18. John Andress, 19. Dean Schofield, 20. Jake Abbott, 21. Paul Hodgson, 22. Danny Gray, 23. Max Stelling.
2:15pm: Welcome to the Kassam Stadium for this Round 22 Aviva Premiership fixture between London Welsh and Worcester Warriors!
Just 80 minutes to go in London Welsh's season in the Aviva Premiership. It's been a rollercoaster ride and it comes to an end this afternoon against Worcester. There was a time when the Exiles hoped they might go into this fixture with all to play for, but it was not to be, their fate being sealed three weeks earlier against Northampton Saints on the same ground.
But stull, we have 80 minutes to get through and an opportunity for the supporters to show their appreciation to the players for their efforts this season, and vice versa of course. Should be an emotional day.
London Welsh v Worcester Warriors
Aviva Premiership
Saturday 4th May, 2013
Live updates from the Kassam Stadium
London Welsh: Tom Arscott, Dan Caprice, Seb Stegmann, James Lewis, Nick Scott, Gordon Ross (C), Rob Lewis, Tom Bristow, Greg Bateman, Arthur Joly, Kirill Kulemin, Matt Corker, Daniel Browne, Lee Beach, Alfie To’oala.
Replacements: Joe Ajuwa for Caprice (35mins), Julio Cabello Farias for To’oala (h-t), Adam Brown for Kulemin (59mins), James Tideswell for Joly (60mins), Alex Davies for Rob Lewis (68mins), Mike Denbee for Beach (68mins), Billy Moss for Bristow (69mins), Dan George for Bateman (69mins).
Yellow cards: Browne (14mins), Kulemin (29mins), Ross (39mins).
Worcester Warriors: Chris Pennell, Josh Drauniniu, Andy Short, Alex Grove, Ben Howard, Andy Goode, Jonny Arr, Matt Mullan, Ed Shervington, Euan Murray, James Percival (C), Chris Jones, Neil Best, Sam Betty, Richard de Carpentier.
Replacements: Danny Gray for Short (65mins), Jake Abbott for Betty (65mins), Sean Schofield for Percival (66mins), Paul Hodgson for Arr (66mins), John Andress for Murray (66mins).
Replacements not used: Aleki Lutui, Rob O’Donnell, Max Stelling.
Yellow cards: Best (6mins), Jones (67mins).
No photo gallery linked to this match yet.
