Bath seal Exiles' fate

 

Despite a spirited performance from the hosts that saw tries for Nic Reynolds and Opeti Fonua, this defeat ensures the Exiles will finish 12th in the Premiership this year.

 

The visitors made an imposing start as Rob Webber touched down from close range and Houston skipped away to score his first, only for the Exiles to respond through Reynolds' effort.

 

With the score poised at 10-7 at the break, Bath seized control as Sam Burgess capped a promising display with his second Premiership try of the season before Houston completed his double and Alafoti Fa'osiliva also went over.

 

Early pressure from the visitors saw them secure a line-out deep in Exiles territory after Ollie Devoto kicked a penalty to the corner, only for Bath to knock on near the tryline.

 

The hosts thought they had cleared their lines after the resulting scrum, but referee Thomas Foley asked the TMO to investigate potential foul play, with Bath eventually awarded a penalty.

 

The West Country side opted for a scrum and once again went close to crossing over, only for Burgess, lining up at outside centre, to be penalised for holding on.

 

Devoto then opted for the corner once more as Welsh infringed at a scrum near halfway and Rob Webber dotted down in the corner after Bath set up the rolling maul.

 

With the wind swirling around the Kassam Stadium, fullback Tom Homer saw his conversion attempt drop short of the posts as it remained 5-0 to Bath after 12 minutes.

 

The Exiles responded with a spell of pressure but on 23 minutes, Bath secured another line-out in the hosts' 22, allowing Leroy Houston to dart up the left wing and touch down, with Homer's conversion attempt again blown off target.

 

Yet just three minutes later, Welsh reduced the arrears as centre Reynolds went over from close range and Tristan Roberts converted to make it 10-7.

 

Bath then secured a series of line-outs in the Exiles' 22, with the sustained pressure telling as Welsh prop Nathan Trevett was sent to the bin for collapsing a maul.

 

But despite going a man down, Welsh held firm to eventually win a free-kick at a scrum and clear their lines as they remained just three points behind at the interval.

 

Following the restart, cross-code star Burgess demonstrated his continuing progress as he forced a turnover at the breakdown on halfway.

 

And after Bath stole the ball from the subsequent line-out, Burgess barged over to score, with Homer adding the extras to make it 17-7 on 48 minutes.

 

The visitors were now looking for a fourth try to secure a vital bonus point as Devoto repeatedly kicked to the corner.

 

Although Bath were able to drive over the Exiles line after a five-metre line-out, great defence by the hosts ensured the ball was held up and Foley awarded an attacking scrum instead of a try.

 

But the visiting pack's dominance in the set piece soon told as Houston picked up the ball from the base of a scrum to force his way over, securing his second try and the extra point.

 

Homer missed the extras but made no mistake moments later as Carl Fearns intercepted a Welsh pass to offload to Matt Garvey, who found Fa'osiliva on his shoulder to score – Homer's conversion making it 29-7.

 

Yet the hosts responded with an impressive line-out move of their own as a catch and drive from close range saw Fonua touch down and Will Robinson land a superb touchline conversion on 74 minutes.

 

But there was to be no late surge for the hosts as lock Dean Schofield was shown a yellow card as the clock ticked into the red.

 

 

Tries: Reynolds, Fonua

Cons: Roberts, Robinson

 

Tries: Webber, Houston 2, Burgess, Faosiliva

Cons: Homer 2

 

 

London Welsh: 15 Seb Jewell, 14 Seb Stegmann, 13 Nic Reynolds, 12 Tom May (captain), 11 Alan Awcock, 10 Tristan Roberts, 9 Rob Lewis, 8 Opeti Fonua, 7 Carl Kirwan, 6 Lachlan McCaffrey, 5 James Down, 4 Dean Schofield, 3 Ben Cooper, 2 Koree Britton, 1 Nathan Trevett.

Replacements: 16 Nathan Morris, 17 Eddie Aholelei, 18. Jack Gilding, 19 Ben West, 20 Richard Thorpe, 21. Paul Rowley, 22 Will Robinson, 23 James Lewis.

 

Bath: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Semesa Rokoduguni, 13 Sam Burgess, 12 Kyle Eastmond, 11 Olly Woodburn, 10 Ollie Devoto, 9 Micky Young, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Alafoti Faosiliva, 6 Carl Fearns, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Stuart Hooper (captain), 3 Kane Palma-Newport, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Nick Auterac.

Replacements: 16 Ross Batty, 17 Beno Obano, 18 Max Lahiff, 19 Matt Garvey, 20 David Sisi, 21 Chris Cook, 22 Matt Banahan, 23 Horacio Agulla.

 

Referee: Thomas Foley

Assistant Referees: Peter Huckle, Paul Burton

TMO: David Sainsbury