RUGBY Welsh suffered a narrow friendly defeat but were able to take solace from their performance in Saturday’s 22-17 loss to Berkswell and Balsall 2nds.
The match was arranged late after Trinity Guild RFC pulled out, but their replacements proved a solid test for Welsh.
With the slope of the pitch working in their favour, Rugby Welsh were able to craft attacking opportunities from midfield through the Bond brothers, though it was flanker Loz Galleno who notched them in front when bundling over the line from close range mid-way through the first-half.
But it would prove difficult for Welsh to weather the Berkswell storm who responded dangerously to going behind, managing to get themselves level before the break with an unconverted try, despite the host’s defence and Anthony Reynolds in particular looking in great form.
Sustained pressure would face Rugby Welsh as the second-half started, which they did well to cope with, managing to launch a counter-attack from which George Bond secured a try, following his clearing kick and chase which led to a mistake and subsequent scrum from which Bond went under the posts.
The visitors resumed their attack-minded approach and soon broke through the resolute Welsh defence, scoring three tries in a matter of 15 minutes to take firm control of the game.
Welsh rotated their side to rest specific players ahead of key fixtures that lie ahead, but still managed to drive forward and reduce the deficit through Jack Taylor’s unconverted try to complete the scoring.
Rugby now head into another friendly against Old Leamingtonian’s 2nd’s on Saturday (2:15pm), prior to a cup tie away at Mellish on the 19th January.
