Jones gives Welsh a roasting (From Your Local Guardian)

Jones gives Welsh a roasting

3:08pm Friday 6th January 2012 in London Welsh By Stuart Amos

Hard work is the only way London Welsh are going to alleviate themselves from their recent dip in form, according to head coach Lyn Jones.

The Exiles travel to Rotherham Titans on Saturday having ended 2011 on a low note with a New Year’s Eve defeat to Moseley at Old Deer Park.

Welsh are without a win in four matches in all competitions, and have taken just three points from their past three Championship outings.

Although Welsh did follow up their defeat at Nottingham with a noteworthy draw away to Leinster A in the British & Irish Cup, Boxing Day’s draw with Esher and last Saturday’s 10-7 defeat to Moseley made for a wretched festive period for the Exiles.

“We’re at the bottom of our game at the moment. We’re trying to rectify it, we’re trying to get out of it, but we created lots of opportunities to score,” said Jones.

“The only way we’re going to get out of it is hard work. As a squad we’ll stick together and we are prepared to work hard.

“Rotherham are a very good side, they’ve got three or four really good players. We’ve got a lot of work to do between now and then to get a win, but it’s not impossible.”

Welsh were certainly not without their chances against Moseley – indeed they could have been several tries to the good by half-time.

But they failed to take them, coupled with some excellent last ditch defence from Moseley, and although Joe Ajuwa crossed in the corner for his seventh Championship try of the season, a penalty try gave the visitors the win.

“We turned over half of our possession in knock ons and turnovers. The players were very disappointed with what went on,” said Jones.

“We created about 10 opportunities to score points but only took one of them.

“You’ve got to take your chances when they arrive and we failed to do that. Instead of being 14-0 up at half-time it’s 0-0.

“We took the lead 7-3 but then a kick that went the length of the field brought us back to a pressure situation where we conceded points. So from being in control we’ve lost it again. It’s about individuals making good decisions.

“It’s not doom and gloom, our defence was good and there’s lots of good in our game. We’re creating, if we weren’t creating then we’d have a situation.”