London Welsh need to show far more consistency when they visit Rotherham on Saturday and Cambridge University on Tuesday following a season of ups and downs, writes Vicky Cheevers.

This was reflected in last Saturday's 30-24 home defeat by Exeter Chiefs in the National League Division One in which they had to settle for a losing bonus point.

Exeter's Tony Yapp and Welsh's Sam Ulph exchanged penalties in the opening minutes before Exeter went 11-3 ahead with another penalty by Yapp and an unconverted try from Jason Luff.

But Welsh, who produced some excellent rucking and were well served by Steve Millard, Adam Kwasnicki and Martin Anayi, were still very much in the game. They were rewarded when Duncan Hayward grabbed his third try in three appearances to give Ulph an easy conversion. Olly Hodge scored the second of Exeter's tries after Welsh lost a lineout on the halfway line, however. Yapp converted both this and his own touch down soon afterwards, giving Exeter a 25-10 half-time lead. Exeter increased their advantage when Alan Miller went over, but Welsh hit back and replacement Andrew Daish scored his first two tries for the senior side. Ulph added the extras points.

Welsh came close to going over again, but a knock-on undid all their hard work. London Welsh: Ulph, Strong, Cannon, Hayward, Holgate, Marks (Meenan, 53mins), Shaw (Bishop, 65), Millard (Marsters, 65), Kwasnicki (Ritchie, 65, Taylor, 87), Hannon, Quigley, capt, Clarke (Daish, 40), McNamee, Anayi, Griffith (Collier, 72).