HAVING scored 26 unanswered points to snatch their first British and Irish Cup victory of the season last weekend, London Welsh will be aiming to keep the momentum going when they visit Yorkshire Carnegie in the Greene King IPA Championship on Friday night.
Welsh looked to be slipping to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions when they trailed Cardiff Blues Premier 29-7 in the second-half at Old Deer Park last Saturday.
But they launched an impressive comeback with Josh McNally, Koree Britton, Eddie Aholelei and Jamie Lewis all crossed inside the final 19 minutes to seal a 33-29 victory.
Next up is a trip to face second-place Yorkshire Carnegie in round 10 of the Greene King IPA Championship – with a first victory since their 14-8 win over Jersey firmly on the agenda.
The hosts themselves come into the game off the back of a defeat in the British and Irish Cup – Munster A edging to a 14-9 win – while their last league game also resulted in a loss when Steffan Jones slotted a late penalty to seal a 22-21 win for Bedford Blues.
The Blues travel to Cornish Pirates on Sunday looking to move up the table from their current position of fourth.
They are on a five-match winning streak in all competitions dating back to a 34-27 defeat to Jersey on October 10.
Cornish Pirates meanwhile find themselves bottom of the table although they will be buoyed by a successful fortnight in the British and Irish Cup where they recorded back-to-back wins over London Welsh and Nottingham.
The Pirates are currently two points behind Ealing Trailfinders who play host to sixth-placed Nottingham a day earlier on Saturday.
And while consecutive defeats in the British and Irish Cup dented momentum somewhat, the Trailfinders can at least take heart from their 27-3 win over London Welsh in the league last time out – Alex Bradley and James Stephenson grabbing a try each.
Nottingham meanwhile will be looking to bounce back from an error-strewn game against the Cornish Pirates last weekend although hooker and try-scorer Jack Singleton was a highlight on his debut.
Nottingham's clash with Ealing is one of three games on Saturday with Rotherham Titans hosting Jersey and Doncaster Knights welcoming Moseley.
The Titans were unbeaten against Jersey last season, winning 32-29 away from home and then drawing 20-20 back in February.
They come into the game off the back off a win following their 48-12 triumph over Ealing Trailfinders while Jersey will be looking to bounce back after a last-gasp defeat to a Dragons Select side.
Third-placed Doncaster Knights meanwhile will be looking to keep the pressure on leaders Bristol Rugby when they take on tenth-placed Moseley.
The latter won 28-13 the last time they visited the Knights a year ago although their opponents hold the most recent bragging rights, having won the reverse fixture 20-17.
Bristol meanwhile will get a chance to put the pressure on their rivals ahead of the weekend when they host London Scottish on Friday night, live on Sky Sports HD.
The table-toppers' most recent league game saw them slip up to Doncaster Knights and Scottish – winless in the league in four rounds – will be looking to pounce.
Friday NOVEMBER 27
Bristol Rugby v London Scottish, live on Sky Sports HD. Kick-off 7.45pm
Yorkshire Carnegie v London Welsh, kick-off 8pm
Saturday NOVEMBER 28
Rotherham Titans v Jersey, kick-off 2pm
Doncaster Knights v Moseley, kick-off 2.30pm
Ealing Trailfinders v Nottingham Rugby, kick-off 3pm
Sunday NOVEMBER 29
Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues, kick-off 3pm
To download statistics from round nine, please click here.
