NOTTINGHAM: 21 LONDON WELSH: 27

As opening games go Nottingham could hardly have been handed a tougher prospect.

London Welsh have built a big, powerful and talented squad in their bid for the Premiership.

But there were plenty of positives to be taken as the Green and Whites rose to the challenge and actually led for most of the second half.

They showed plenty grit and determination but it was not quite enough, and there was an inevitability about the late winner that gave Welsh a bonus point win.

The visitors attacked from the start and forced a scrum, and when Nottingham were penalised a gap opened up for Liam Gibson to cross for the first score of the game.

With the conversion missed Nottingham trailed by five points, but from the restart they forced a penalty for James Arlidge to put them back in contention.

An unkind bounce then denied Nottingham following a high kick from David Jackson. But they did win a scrum, and when Welsh were then penalised Arlidge put the home side in front by a single point.

A couple of poor lineouts handed the initiative back to the visitors though and when they won a lineout in the home 22 they moved the ball across the field quickly for winger Josh Drauniniu to restore their lead.

Again the Green and Whites hit back though, Tim Usasz making ground through the middle and winning a penalty for Arlidge to bring them back to within a point on twenty five minutes.

An exchange of penalties maintained that one point gap but with eight first half minutes remaining a fifth kick from Arlidge put the Green and Whites back in front.

Welsh could have gone in at the break with another couple of tries as knock ons and poor passes saw several opportunities wasted.

A sixth penalty from Arlidge stretched the home lead to four points a couple of minutes after the break, but the remainder of the second half was largely one way traffic.

With the Nottingham defence looking strong chances were few, but the pressure continued to build and the try Welsh had threatened finally came twelve minutes form time as centre Simon Whatling broke through to touch down close to the posts, with Gordon Ross converting to make it 18-20.

Still Nottingham refused to lie down though, and a seventh straight kick form Arlidge put them back in front by a point minutes later, and earned him the Man of the Match award.

But Welsh continued to dominate and a second try from Drauniniu, with Ross adding the touchline conversion, gave them a deserved win.

Sempere; Savage, Cobden, Forsyth, Jackson; Arlidge, Usasz; Fowkes (French), Youngs, Prescott, Kench, Raven, Hammond (capt), Armes, Shaw.

Pens: Arlidge (7)

The next home tie will see Nottingham take on Plymouth in two weeks. We hope to see you all there.

Thank you for your support.