Newbury 12 London Welsh 20

London Welsh achieved what Exeter Chiefs couldn't by departing Monks Lane with all four-points, and a win that moves the Exiles up to ninth in the table.

Welsh struck twice in the opening half through Allen Chilten and Paul Mackey, as they established a healthy 12-point lead.

However, the second period would see the Exiles forced to dig in, as Newbury fought-back with Martin Nutt crossing for his second try, but Matt Jones' late penalty proved decisive for Welsh.Kick-off was preceded by a minute's silence in memory of former London Welsh prop Pierre Durant, which was impeccably observed by all present at Monks Lane.

It was the home side that nearly struck first as Tim Walsh released Andrew Henderson, only for Michael Tagicakibau to mark his Exiles debut with a try saving tackle.

Henderson was penalised for holding on, and it was the scare Welsh needed to spark them into life.

Jones took play to half-way and as the Welsh pack rumbled their way forward, Charlie Beech broke free before finding Paul Doran Jones, who in turn released the fast arriving Allen Chilten to burst clear and touchdown. Jones converted.

Walsh had the chance to respond for Newbury, but the fly-half saw his penalty attempt, into the teeth of the wind, drift wide of the uprights.

But the home side wouldn't have long to wait before they struck back, as Andrew Reay's initial break would eventually end with prop Wayne Thompson providing the final scoring pass for Nutt to cross for his first.

But Welsh hit back immediately from the restart as Mark Lee and Jonathan Mills won the Exiles a scrum, from which the home side were penalised and Jones found the centre of the uprights.

Jones could have extended the margin further, but was unfortunate to see his penalty attempt rebound off the left hand upright, while at the opposing end, Paul Sampson was twice called upon to dive on loose ball, as first Walsh and then full back Jonathan Hylton looked to test the Welsh full back.

The second occasion seeing Sampson penalised for not releasing, and a quick tap penalty ending with Newbury adjudged held up.

It may have been the home side that were finishing the half the stronger, but it was the Exiles that struck.

Thomas Brown spilled the ball as Newbury spread play across the field and Paul Mackey hacked on towards to Newbury line. Walsh won the race to the loose ball but the fly-half was unable to gather the ball cleanly as he went to ground, and Mackey again displayed his soccer skills to good effect before touching down. Jones added the extras.An action packed first 40 would give way to an attritional second, as, with the wind now in their faces, the Exiles struggled to gain a foothold in the Newbury half. The home sides' dominance was rewarded when David Rees released Nutt to score in the corner, after Reay had again made the initial break. Walsh added the conversion and the Exiles' lead was down to just five with the home side now strongly in the ascendancy.Walsh should have cut that to just two but was off target when in front of the uprights, but the home side were soon laying siege to the Welsh line as the match entered its pivotal phase.Newbury forced a succession of scrums in front of the Welsh posts, before Walsh weaved his way through the tackles, only to loose control of the ball as he stretched to ground it over the line. It would prove the games deciding moment; another penalty saw Newbury again opt for the scrum.Walsh went blind, only to be met by a welcoming committee of Jones and Mills, and the Newbury No10 was penalised for holding on. Jones cleared Welsh lines and then added the killer blow by slotting over his third penalty, after Lee Best's break saw Greg Evans tackled without the ball. London Welsh scorers: Tries: Chilten, Mackey; Cons: Jones (2); Pens: Jones (2).London Welsh: P Sampson, L Best (R Jewell 72min), G Evans, P Mackey, M Tagicakibau, M Jones, A Chilten, C Beech (D Williams (h-t), S Koto Vuli (J Buckland 51min), P Doran Jones, K Burke (A Andrews 80min), H Quigley, J Mills , M Lee (S Etheredge 61min), P Cox.Half-time: 5-17