Third-time lucky for Mills as Welsh squeeze past Blues
London Welsh v Bedford Blues. wk 20.
HAVING twice endured semi-final heartache, it was third time lucky for London Welsh and captain Jon Mills at Old Deer Park on Sunday, as Welsh progressed to the RFU Championship final despite their 24-27 defeat to the Bedford Blues.
Mills was part of the Welsh side that lost over one leg to Bristol in 2010 and at the hands of the Cornish Pirates last year. Sunday’s events at Old Deer Park helped to go some way to make up for those disappointments.
“It was a huge motivation,” said Mills. “London Welsh are aiming to get back to where this great club belongs and it’s up to us to do the job on the pitch to make sure we get there.
“we’re not going to get carried away, we’re chuffed to be there but we’ve got the challenge of the Pirates to step up to.
“We lost the game, which we’re obviously disappointed with, but we got the result we needed to get through to that final, that’s deserted over the last few years.”
Mills and Welsh endured a nervy finish, though, before they could celebrate reaching a first-ever final.
“Fair play to Bedford they chucked the kitchen sink at us. They’re a very good attacking side.
“We started to fall off a couple of tackles and that’s what got them the ‘go forward’, but when the defence was on top we were really comfortable,” said Mills.
“We felt we gave them a sloppy try by running it from our own half – we probably should have just played a bit more field position.
“I think over the two games we were the better side. But that’s done now and the next job is to make sure we win the final.”
Welsh now face the Pirates over two legs on May 23 in Cornwall and on May 30 in the return game.
“The Pirates are a quality outfit, to turn over Bristol over two legs shows how good they are,” added Mills.
“They were there last year, so maybe that gives them the edge, but we’re thinking win two games and we can get to the Premiership. That’s the plan.”
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Weather for Bedford
Saturday 25 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 13 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 6 C to 18 C
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