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London Welsh will be determined to avenge last weekend's 20-9 defeat when they welcome Grenoble to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday. - 13/12/2012 14:30
I Cavalieri Prato host London Welsh on Saturday with both sides desperate to kick-start their Amlin Challenge Cup campaigns following open day defeats in Pool 5.
The Italian club crashed to a heavy loss at the hands of French club Grenoble and registered just three points as they were outclassed in the Alps.
London Welsh, who made their European debut against Stade Francais Paris, did not fair any better and were given a harsh lesson by the 2011 runners-up.
The Exiles shipped nine tries and head coach Lyn Jones admitted his players were embarrassed by the result.
But he insists there were still plenty of positives, one of those the performance of controversial Wales star Gavin Henson, who was making just his second competitive appearance for the London club.
Henson, who has amassed 259 European points during stints at Swansea, the Ospreys, Saracens and Cardiff Blues, was assured at fly-half and added a further 14-points to his tally.
Now Jones knows his side must claim their first European win at Stadio Enrico Chersoni against a team that has won just one match in 13 Amlin Challenge Cup encounters.
I Cavalieri Prato came within four minutes of notching only their second European win after hitting back from a 12 point deficit in the final quarter. - 20/10/2012 14:57
I Cavalieri Prato came within four minutes of notching only their second European win after hitting back from a 12 point deficit in the final quarter.
Two tries in the space of six minutes from Nicolo Tempestini and lock Giacomo Bemini, both converted by Marco Frati, threatened to end their run of 12 straight defeats in the Amlin Challenge Cup, but it was not to be their day in the end.
Having led from the 11th to the 75th minute, London Welsh managed to work their way downfield and earn a long-range penalty with two minutes left on the clock.
Up stepped full back Alex Davies and over went his second penalty from 45 metres to regain the lead. That made it 32-31 and the Exiles hung on from there.
But the Italians at least ended with two points from the game having outscored their Pool 5 rivals by four tries to three, but they couldn’t quite manage to emulate their famous 23-21 home win over Connacht two years ago on their first European outing.
Having been thumped 68-19 by Stade Francais Paris on their first foray into the Amlin Challenge cup last weekend, London Welsh were delighted to have picked up their first win in the tournament.
Hooker Dan George starter the scoring with a try after 11 minutes and wing Joe Ajuwa grabbed a try in each half for the visitors. There were five penalties split between Gordon Ross and Davies and Ross also converted one try.
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