Exiles Edged Out
Birmingham Exiles 1st XV 14 - 15 Rugby Welsh
Birmingham Exiles RUFC, with several first choice players unavailable, saw their hopes of a league double over Rugby Welsh dashed as they went down to defeat by a single point. The visitors pack laid early foundations for a win that saw them edge out Exiles to finish third in the league table.
Welsh’s forwards gave early notice of their intentions, taking the first scrum against the head. E’s survived a five metre scrum at their own line but, following a lineout, were unable to stop Rugby’s pack rolling over the line, open side flanker Stuart Griffiths emerging from the bottom of a pile of bodies to claim the try; stand off Angus Wilson added a good conversion
Exiles re-applied themselves: Johnstone was just off target with a penalty goal attempt and Parkinson just failed to ground the ball for a try. The hosts then got back into contention: they were awarded a free kick for a scrum offence; scrum half Dan Pinfield took a quick tap and scurried to the Welsh line for a try that was well goaled by stand off Dan Johnstone, to level the score at 7-7.
Welsh continued to play to their forward strength and, five minutes before the break, regained the lead with another rolling maul that ended with Griffiths scoring his second try.
HT: Birmingham Exiles 7 Pts, Rugby Welsh 12
Exiles started the second half with some purpose and produced a splendid score: a break by full back McGee, who caused problems for the visitors’ defence every time he came into the line, was carried on by Avery and Leckie gave the assist to left wing Dylan Baker who touched down in the corner for a try that was excellently converted by Johnstone to put E’s ahead 14-12
Five minutes later, a penalty for a high tackle gave Welsh the opportunity to regain the lead, sub fly half Neil Bird kicking the goal.
It was anybody’s match and E’s, now doing better in the forward exchanges as the match wore on, strove for a score that might well have been decisive. As time ran out, the hosts moved the ball down the back line following a lineout but the move ended with a knock on. Welsh held on for their win; for E’s the consolation of a bonus
Report by John Simkin
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