Nottingham 18 London Welsh 10

EDF Energy National Trophy Round 5

A feisty London Welsh performance ensured Nottingham enjoyed a less than smooth passage in to the last eight of the EDF National Trophy.

Following the Exiles' six-try mauling at the same venue seven days prior, even the most ardent London Welsh supporter must have entered Meadow Lane with a sense of foreboding and trepidation, but the pre-match announcement of a possible quarter-final date across the PA, trod the line between complacency and over confidence.

However, Welsh showed few mental scars from their 34-6 league defeat, as they took the game to the home side and raced into an early and expected lead. Paul Sampson's kick forced Nottingham full back Rohaan Nirmalenoran to place a stray foot into touch, and from the resulting line out Matt Corker secured possession and Hywel Jenkins was driven over. Matt Jones added the extras and Welsh lead by seven with barely five minutes on the clock.

That stung the home side into life, and the boot of fly half Ben Thompson pinned Welsh in their own half, as Nottingham elected to turn down a succession of kickable penalties, preferring to probe the corners. The tactic had reaped its benefits in the league clash, but this time around a combination of good counter driving and spirited defence was thwarting Nottingham as they continued to pound away with plan A.

Accidental offside against Nottingham's lively scrum half Timothy Usasz allowed Jones to first clear Welsh lines, and then nearly find James Strong with a cross field kick after Paul Mackey had found a hole in the Nottingham midfield.

Good pressure saw Welsh put the squeeze on, and having forced a lineout, Jonathan Mills and Jenkins powered their way up to the Nottingham line, only for the home side to turn the ball over and escape without further damage on the scoreboard.

Hywel Jenkins was penalised for a high tackle and from the ensuing lineout, Alex Dodge cut a great line in field off the right wing to slice through the red jerseys. This time Nottingham would make the pressure count, as Usasz's astute kick in to the in-goal area was perfectly waited for lock Sam Reven to touch down. David Jackson converted.

Dorian Williams, on his return to Welsh colours, could count himself unfortunate to be despatched to the bin, after seemingly driving through the middle of a Nottingham ruck. Again, Thompson only had eyes for the corner, and although the initial surge for the line saw adjudged held up' - No8 Danny Montague barged his way over from the resulting scrum.

An uncharacteristic series of knock-ons from the home side allowed Welsh to gain an early foothold in Nottingham territory, and see out the remainder of Williams' yellow card without further alarm. But it was Nottingham who threatened next as Allen Chilten saw his kick charged down and then gathered by Timothy Molenaar. The Welsh scrum-half testing the durability of Molenaar's jersey to the full, until support arrived to shepherd Nottingham into touch.

A penalty for not rolling away gave Thompson the opportunity to again find the corner, but this time the fly half would have to step aside, as Jackson had little hesitation in pointing to the uprights. Jackson slotted over the penalty to increase the margin to eight-points, and only Sampson's one-on-one defensive prowess prevented Molenaar finishing off a scorching break.

Welsh were back to within a score when Jones stepped up to fire over a superb kick from close to half-way, but another Jackson penalty once again gave the home side breathing space. Sampson's late 60-metre break ensured Welsh finished the match on the front foot - and capped a team performance from which the Exiles will take great heart as they await the arrival of Exeter to Old Deer Park next weekend.

London Welsh scorers: Tries: Jenkins; Cons: Jones; Pens: Jones.

London Welsh: P Sampson, J Strong, G Evans, P Mackey (R Jewell 74min), A Cadwallader, M Jones, A Chilten (R Evans 72min), D Williams, S Koto Vuli, P Doran Jones (K Gay 63min), K Burke (W Lewaravu 59min), M Corker, J Mills (P Cox 63min), M Lee, H Jenkins.

Half-time: 12-7