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Welsh provide a fitting finish

London Welsh brought the curtain down at Old Deer Park league with a win that moves the Exiles into seventh spot.

Welsh produced some excellent rugby as they raced into an early 17-point lead thanks to tries from debutant Noah Cato and Paul Mackey, with fly half Matthew Jones adding both conversions and a drop goal.

But the Exiles struggled to push on in the second-half, against a determined Plymouth side.

Ed Lewsey's try, coupled with five points from the boot of Ross Laidlaw however, were to prove not enough for the visitors, as Michael Tagicakibau's crossed for his first try for Welsh, to ensure the points for Welsh.

Jones got Welsh on the board after Hywel Jenkins, a worthy man of the match, picked up from a scrum and drove into the Albion half before finding Simon Etheredge with a neat offload.

Fijian World Cup hooker Sunia Koto Vuli carried play into the Plymouth 22, but some stout defence from the visitors saw Jones settle for an easy drop goal from in front of the posts.

Welsh had made the brighter start, carrying on from where they had left of against Doncaster, and with the aid of Jones' thunderous boot, the home side were immediately back in Albion territory.

While in contrast, Plymouth number 10 Ross Laidlaw was having an unpredictable day with his kicking game.

The bounce of the ball favoured Welsh for their opening try as first Allen Chilten reclaimed his own chip ahead, before play was spread through the hands and Noah Cato borrowed a leaf out of Chilten's book.

Albion's last man, Keni Fisilau couldn't deal with the wickedly bouncing ball and Cato followed up to claim a try on his debut for Welsh. Jones added the conversion.

Laidlaw turned down a kickable penalty in preference for finding the touchline and as the visitors pack threatened to drive their way over, Welsh flanker Simon Etheredge was despatched to the bin for 10 minutes.

For four minutes Albion proceeded to pound away at the Welsh line, but could find no breech in the Exiles' defence, until great work by Jonathan Mills won Welsh a penalty and Jones cleared the danger.

It was a period of the match that Plymouth would come to rue, as from the resulting lineout 14-man Welsh were in for their second try.

Bursts from Mackey and Tagicakibau took Welsh up to the Plymouth 22 before Jones' floated pass picked out Mackey again, and the centre cut inside two tacklers to touch down by the posts. Jones converted, and although his late penalty drifted to the right of the posts, the Exiles still took a commanding, if not decisive, lead into the break.

It was a more purposeful Albion side that emerged for the second-half and after excellent work to reclaim the restart by Mike Denbee, Laidlow stoked over a simple penalty to get the visitors on the board.

Albion were dominating the possession stakes but it was Welsh that struck next, as a thumping hit by Aaron Liffchak, coupled with some great work on the floor, won the Exiles a penalty, which Jones fired up to the Plymouth 22.

Against a stubborn defence, Welsh showed their patience as they built the phases before eventually Jones' pass put width on the attack and Mackey and Paul Sampson combined down the right.

When play was switched across the field, Tagicakibau showed a clean pair of heels to break through the overstretched Plymouth defence and touchdown in the corner.

However, it was not to quite prove the match clincher the home support had hoped, as this time Welsh couldn't return the restart with interest and after forcing a succession of scrums just metres from the Welsh line, wing Ed Lewsey darted over to keep the away side in the game.

Laidlaw converted but it would be the last time that either would trouble the scorers, although Jones' scintillating injury-time break out from his own 22 deserved better, as the fly half eluded the tacklers before his pass just failed to find the support arriving at pace on his outside.

London Welsh scorers: Tries: Cato, Mackey, Tagicakibau; Cons: Jones (2); Drop goals: Jones.

London Welsh: P Sampson, N Cato (J Strong 74min), A Cadwallader, P Mackey (R Jewell 70min), M Tagicakibau, M Jones, A Chilten (T Marks 63min), D Williams, S Koto Vuli, A Liffchak (P Doran Jones 70min), H Quigley (B Thomas 52min), W Lewaravu, J Mills , S Etheredge, H Jenkins (K Burke 63min).

1:05pm Monday 21st April 2008

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