Welsh and Esher share spoils (From Croydon Guardian)

Welsh and Esher share spoils

2:44pm Wednesday 28th December 2011 in Other Rugby By Damian Dolan

London Welsh missed the chance to go second in the table as Esher ended their 14 match losing streak in the Championship.

The Exiles took advantage when the visitors were reduced to 13-men with Hudson Tonga’uiha crossing to open the scoring, but Esher would put in a performance that belied their isolated position at the foot of the table.

A Mark Atkinson penalty closed the gap to just two points at the break and Esher could begin to dream of a first league win of the season when hooker Stuart Mackie crashed over early in the second half and Atkinson converted.

But Welsh’s reply couldn’t have been any quicker as the home side responded a minute later through Vili Ma’asi, before Gordon Ross and Atkinson traded penalties.

Not for the first time this season Old Deer Park braced itself for another tense finish, but it was the visitors who had the chance to snatch it, only for Atkinson’s attempt, deep into injury time, to fall short.

Welsh went into the game fifth in the Championship table following Christmas Eve wins for the Cornish Pirates and Rotherham Titans, but by the time referee Paul Knowles blew his final whistle the Exiles had to settle for third place after being held by a spirited Esher side.

Welsh had run in four tries in a comfortable win in the two sides’ meeting earlier this season, but it soon became increasingly apparent that there would be no repeat at Old Deer Park.

The away side were lucky to escape with two early miss-directed clearances from Atkinson and full back Ross Chisholm, and it was they that had the first chance for points, only for Atkinson’s attempt at the uprights to slide past the right hand post.

Welsh had started confidently with an air of wanting to put this one to bed as quickly as possible, but promising positions weren’t turned into points with Esher defending tigerishly.

Crossing halted the Welsh forwards at one point, as they looked set to pick and drive their way over the line, but Esher too were not without their early moments in attack.

The game would ignite in the 20th minute when Ed Siggery’s strong carry got Welsh over the gain line with Esher tacklers hanging off him. Rob Lewis released Ed Jackson at pace and the scrum half was then on hand to take play to within metres of the Esher line, before the home side were penalised and number eight Michael Macfarlane saw yellow.

Five metres out, Welsh opted for the scrum and the upshot was a succession of scrums that brought further penalties from Esher’s seven-man pack and ultimately a yellow card for hooker Mackie, but no penalty try.

No matter. With a two man advantage Welsh went wide and centre Tonag’uiha finished from close range. Ross couldn’t convert.

Frustratingly, and to Esher’s credit, Welsh could take no further advantage of their numerical superiority. Indeed, Atkinson’s penalty got the away side on the board.

Ross and Atkinson would both have chances to add to their sides’ tally before the break, but both would see their attempts fall short.

Esher had lost Matthew Symons just 13 minutes into the match but his replacement Thomas Alexander was having a massive game for his side and his carry from the restart got the away side back on the front foot.

A penalty took Esher back into Welsh territory but play would then switch dramatically from one to the other as Esher’s overthrown lineout only found Michael Hills at the tail.

Rob Lewis and James Lewis combined to see the home wide sweep down field, but a promising position was lost when the Exiles knocked on and Esher countered.

Wing Charlie Walker made the initial break but it was his offload to Phil Mackenzie that let Welsh scrambling back in defence. Arran Cruickshanks had the line in his sights, only to be denied by James Lewis’ cover tackle, but hooker Mackie arrived to pick up and drive over. Atkinson converted and the away side were in front for the first time in the game.

It was a sensation they would not enjoy for long - barely a minute to be precise. A penalty from the restart was nudged into the corner by Ross and the Welsh pack drove their way over the Esher line with hooker Ma’asi the last to emerge.

Ross couldn’t add the extras but the fly half would soon after make no mistake from in front of the posts to edge the home side back in front.

In turn, it was a lead the Exiles would hold for only four minutes as a high tackle on Atkinson gave the Esher number ten a kickable penalty in front of the posts and he duly levelled the scores once for.

Old Deer Park has witnessed its fair share of tight finishes already this season but despite having a quarter still left to run, we seemed set for another nail-biter. And so it proved as both sides tried but failed to manufacture what might prove the winning score.

Esher came closest to a try when Atkinson gathered his own chip over the top, but his offload failed to go to hand, otherwise Phil Mackenzie would have been in. It was Esher asking the questions and it was to them that the final chance to snatch victory went when Welsh were penalised at a scrum and Atkinson teed the ball up from 40 metres out.

His attempt, though, would fall short and Welsh breathed a huge sigh of relief.

London Welsh: Tries: Tonga’uiha, Ma’asi; Pens: Ross.

Esher: Tries: Mackie; Cons: Atkinson; Pens: Atkinson.

London Welsh: Edd Thrower, Will Hurrell, Hudson Tonga’uiha, Seb Jewell, Joe Ajuwa, Gordon Ross ©, Rob Lewis, Tom French, Vili Ma’asi, Shawn Pittman, Adam Brown, Martin Purdy, Ed Siggery Michael Hills, Ed Jackson.

Replacements: James Lewis for Jewell (24mins), Ben Russell for Siggery (59mins), Nathan Morris for Ma’asi (63mins), Alex Davies for Thrower (67mins), Matt Corker for Brown (68mins), Jack Moates for Rob Lewis (71mins), Guillermo Roan for French (77mins).

Esher: Ross Chisholm, Charlie Walker, Phil Mackenzie, Arran Cruickshanks, Andy Wright, Mark Atkinson, Jamie Mackenzie, Dave Millard, Stuart Mackie, Cameron Zeiss, Ian Kench, Matt Symons, Mike Macfarlane, Sam Stitcher ©, Chris Goodman.

Replacements: Thomas Alexander for Symons (13mins), James Campbell for Synnot (sin bin 20-31mins), William Collier for Zeiss (h-t), Chris Goodman for Synnot (63mins), James Campbell for Mackie (77mins).

Replacements not used: Geoffrey Griffiths.

Yellow cards: Michael Macfarlane (17mins), Mackie (20mins).

Half-time: 5-3.

Referee: Paul Knowles; Assistant referees: Greg MacDonald & Roger Bailieff.

Attendance: 1,150.