Burnell counts cost as Welsh secure play-off place

London Welsh head coach Justin Burnell was left feeling the pinch after seeing his side book their place in the Championship semi-finals with a 32-21 win at London Scottish, having promised to buy his whole squad a beer.

Second half tries from Daniel Browne and Joe Ajuwa, coupled with 17 points from fly half Alex Davies and a further five from the boot of Seb Jewell, set up a victory that ensures a play-off place with three rounds of league action to spare, before the London Welsh players made the short walk back to Old Deer Park where Burnell made good on his word.

"Unfortunately I've got to foot the bill now,” said Burnell. "It will cost me, but I've got no problem with that."

"We came to do a job and achieve what we set out to do in the summer – our goal was to get into the top four."

"There's still a long way to go, but we've worked hard, reached the top four, and I can enjoy that achievement with my squad. I admire their hard work and honesty and I just felt what they've done since the summer deserved a beer.”

Welsh had trailed Scottish 14-12 at half time with Davies in the sin bin, but re-emerged a team transformed in the second half to overpower the home side.

"Our discipline was killing us. We said let's not play any rugby in our own half, so we just talked about moving the point of contact and relieving ourselves of the pressure,” said Burnell.

"We just became dominant in the second half. We got in the right areas and strangled them a little bit.”

Sunday's win completed a busy March period for Welsh, a period which produced five wins, three with bonus points. They now have a weekend off before welcoming Jersey to the Kassam Stadium on April 12.

Bristol and Nottingham remain in the regular season before Welsh can then begin contemplating a two-legged semi-final.

"We're away for a week and then we can start building up for Jersey, Bristol and Nottingham, but it's nice to go away knowing that we're already in the play-offs,” said Burnell, who will continue to rotate his squad for the remaining games.

"It won't be the same 15 against Jersey and against Bristol and so on, and that process will be the same for the play-offs. I'm very respectful of my squad. They work hard and we all reap the rewards."

"To get us into the play-offs it's taken 40-odd players. It won't be the same 15 players [for the play-offs] I'll change the change squad."

"I think we're the dark horses. Bristol are a very good side and so too are Leeds and Rotherham, but we've lost the least amount of the games and conceded the least amount – we're not a bad little team.”