RUGBY Welsh wrapped up their Midlands 5 West (South) season with a convincing 36-7 victory over Atherstone.
The bonus point victory ensures Welsh finish third in the division, in a match that took place on local rivals Old Laurentians’ pitch – after the posts at Alwyn Road being broken.
Atherstone, who were a man light with only 14 players, put in the hard yards early on to suggest they were not there to merely make up the numbers.
Their early promise paid dividends when scoring a penalty try, although the hosts eventually got into the game when Jack Taylor and Adam Bond were provided with more possession in dangerous areas.
Taylor went over the line but was adjudged to have not grounded the ball correctly, but he quickly made amends before the half was out to level the scores – following Angus Wilson’s conversion.
The second-half was dominated by the hosts after an early scrum released Andy Higham to cross the whitewash, again converted by Wilson.
Both sides had a player sin-binned after a quick release of the ball, but Rugby were the biggest beneficiaries as they proceeded to rack up a third try of the game.
Gareth Hart intercepted the play and, after kicking the ball upfield, allowed Taylor to touch down his second of the afternoon.
Hart himself then followed up with a bonus point try, prior to his side losing a player to the sin bin for the second time.
Welsh recovered by allowing their backs to roam forward, with Bond getting on the scoresheet, followed by Taylor’s hat-trick try to wrap up the scoring.
Rugby Welsh close off their season with a friendly against Newbold 3rd XV on April 27, prior to the end-of-season club dinner on May 11 – with more details being made available by the club in due course.
