Cornish Pirates 8 London Welsh 10

Proving that lightening can indeed strike twice, almost a year to the day from Welsh spoiling the Pirates end of season party, the Dragons returned to Camborne to again prove party poopers.

Played in filthy conditions with a blustery wind, Aled Thomas’ first half penalty gave Welsh a slender lead, and when the Dragons camped themselves in the Pirates half after the break, a penalty try was the away sides reward.

Welsh were in cruise control until Pirates full back Marika Vakacegu dived over in the corner and replacement Rhys Jones added a penalty from in front of the posts.

But that was a far as the home sides fight back would go, as Welsh kept their heads to see out the match and secure sixth place from the Pirates.

It was Welsh that had first use of the wind but it was home side that could have struck first after the Dragons infringed in their own 22 and Pirates fly half Simon Whatling prodded the ball into the corner.

But just as they would all afternoon, the Welsh lineout would give the Pirates a torrid time on their own throw, and a knock on allowed the Dragons to clear their lines in the fourth minute.

By that time in this fixture last season, the home side had already crossed the Welsh line twice, but it was soon apparent that this would be a very different affair.

Great work in the tackle by Thomas stripped the ball back for Welsh with Tom Brown charging into the Pirates 22 before finding Peter Murchie in support. The centre released Ed Lewis-Pratt on his left, only for the wing to be bundled into touch in the corner by the combined efforts of Aisea Havili and Heino Senekal.

Thomas then intercepted before breaking into the Pirates 22 after Mike Powell had taken the ball on, but once again though Welsh were unable to convert the opportunity into points – a knock on this time thwarting them.

Welsh were nearly made to pay when Paul Devlin hacked on a loose ball, and although Tom Audley covered well, a knock on gave the Pirates good field position.

But when scrum half Edward Fairhurst picked up from a scrum just five metres from the Welsh line, his inside pass went forward and Welsh escaped.

With neither side taking their chances, it was left to Thomas to break the deadlock as the first quarter came to an end. Brown, Murchie and Audley led the breakout from the Dragons half with Thomas, Jonathan Mills and Powell all getting their hands on the ball before the Pirates were penalised in front of their own posts and Thomas did the rest.

Welsh were dominating the lineout, giving the Pirates a torrid afternoon, while twice winning scrums against the head.

The latter though nearly proved the Dragons’ undoing as the ball came back on the Welsh side only for a cross field kick to find the dangerous Vakacegu.

The Pirates full back burst down the left hand touchline only for the back tracking Sampson to get a crucial hand in as Vakacegu looked inside for support.

But with the Pirates re-gathering the loose ball, the danger hadn’t passed, until a knock on ensured Welsh would take their slender lead into the break.

The Dragons would make the start to the second half they wanted as Murchie and Greg Evans combined neatly down the right wing, with quick ball seeing Doran Williams and Aaron Liffchak linking well to edge the Dragons into the Pirates 22.

Thomas and Sunia Koto Vuli took the play on with Powell being hauled down inches short, only for Mills to then be adjudged held up.

But with Welsh seemingly poised to turn the screw, a knock on let the Pirates off the hook, albeit only temporarily.

With the Pirates unable to break out of the stranglehold the Dragons had placed upon them, Allen Chilten’s quick tap from a free kick sent Paul Mackey, marking his 50th League appearance for London Welsh, on a typical charge.

Welsh were dominating and another piece of alert work by Chilten sent Mills crashing into the Pirates 22, and within sight of the line.

This time there would be no reprieve for the home side as a succession of scrums and penalties eventually saw referee Mr Luke Pearce scurry away under the posts to award the Dragons their eighth league try of the season. Thomas converted and Welsh finally had the daylight their performance deserved.

From there though, the home side would wrestle the momentum back from Welsh but without being able to cause the Dragons undue alarm.

The Welsh defence was proving ungenerous and with the away sides discipline holding firm, the Pirates were found devoid of ideas and forced to kick for the corners.

Welsh did have a scare when Fairhurst just failed to find his flanker Chris Morgan, after the scrum half had spied a gap down the downside, and when Blair Cowan then picked up from the back of a scrum, Vakacegu was similarly unable to pick out Rhodri McAtee with the final pass.

Nicky Griffiths and Rhys Jones both found the corner with identical kicks, only for Matt Corker to twice rise phoenix like and allow Welsh to clear their lines.

McAtee couldn’t chase down an overcooked kick, but after a good spell of pressure the Pirates got their reward when Griffiths’ floated pass sent Vakacegu diving over in the corner.

Jones couldn’t add the extras but when Welsh then infringed in front of their own posts, the replacement cut the Dragons’ lead to just two points.

But that was as close as the Pirates would come, as Sampson’s try saving tackle stopped Havili in his tracks as the wing threatened to weave his way into the Welsh 22.

That was the Pirates last chance as the Dragons kept their composure to run down the clock and Sampson hoofed the ball out to ensure the points and sixth spot for the Dragons.

London Welsh scorers: Tries: Penalty; Cons: Thomas; Pens: Thomas.

London Welsh: M Harris, P Sampson, P Murchie, P Mackey, E Lewis-Pratt, A Thomas, A Chilten, D Williams, S Koto Vuli, P Doran Jones, M Corker, M Powell ©, J Mills, T Audley, T Brown.