The year has ended with a loss for this blog’s favourite team (aside from Team GB and ParalympicsGB), as London Welsh were beaten by Wasps 15-34 at the Kassam Stadium, Oxford.
The Exiles end the year on 20 points after 12 of their 22 games, thanks to four wins. Since the introduction of bonus points, no team has ever been relegated from the Premiership with more points than Harlequins accrued in 2004-05 (38), which came from their record of six wins, a draw and 15 losses.
Widely expected to make an instant return to the Championship, Welsh have battled superbly to earn 10th place, ahead of London Irish (12 points) and Sale (11). And it could have been even better, with the hosts leading Wasps 12-6 at the interval this afternoon in front of a record home crowd of more than 10,000.
Thanks to all who made this afternoon’s crowd a record London Welsh attendance of 10,045! You are part of history. #comeonthewelsh
— London Welsh RFC (@LondonWelshRFC) December 29, 2012
Lyn Jones’s side has not exactly set the league on fire with its attacking flair, averaging fewer than 17 points a game.
But their defence has been mean, and they have showed real strength of character to bounce back from heavy defeats at the beginning of the season.
And with Sale, despite their win yesterday, seemingly going into meltdown, there should still be plenty of optimism at Old Deer Park despite today’s defeat.
An Early Bath 
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