Welwyn 1st XV vs Tring Match report

Welwyn suffered their first league defeat of the season on Saturday.

After recording successive wins to open their London Three North West campaign, Welwyn lost 10-6 away to newly-promoted Tring.

Welwyn only had themselves to blame in an error-strewn match with only one converted try separating the two teams.

The first half saw some attacking moves from Tring, whose pack seemed lighter but more mobile. After giving away five penalties in the opening 15 minutes, Welwyn collapsed a rolling maul and Tring finally took the three points.

Ten minutes later the referee judged that Welwyn No 8 Dave Orton had shoulder charged an opponent and he was sin-binned. Welwyn had a second player yellow carded minutes later when flanker Mike Shirley was penalised for handling in the ruck, although he had made the tackle.

Tring failed to convert the penalty and Welwyn defended gallantly with 13 men.

The visitors fell 10 points behind when full back Luke Williams and wing Birkin tried a looping pass that went disastrously wrong. Tring fly-half Tom Newton ran in under the posts and converted himself.

Welwyn fly-half Gareth Hughes chipped away at the lead with two penalties.