Delaney relief after 'tired' win

Molenaar signed a new deal with Nottingham last week

Nottingham director of rugby Glenn Delaney said the victory was everything after seeing his "tired" team beat London Welsh 30-24 at Meadow Lane.

The win boosts The Green and Whites' hopes of finishing fourth in National One but Delaney said their hectic end-of-season schedule was taking its toll.

He told BBC Radio Nottingham: "We could have been brave and gone all out for a bonus point.

"But after three games in eight days we were tired and the win was everything."

A sloppy start saw the home side trail 14-10 at the interval.

But Tim Molenaar marked his 100th game for the club with a try, and scores from Greig Tonks and Alex Dodge, plus five David Jackson kicks, secured the win.

They came at us pretty hard in the first half but their big pack seemed to run out of steam

Tim Molenaar

The Green and Whites are now six points behind fourth-placed Doncaster Knights, who lost to third-placed Bedford Blues, but Nottingham have a game in hand.

Delaney added: "At the end of the day, we were happy with the win and to be able to get off the field and get the guys some rest.

"We gifted a couple of scores away early in the game which put pressure on us.

"It was tight but it's a good experience to go through when you have to construct a win."

Molenaar said the team stayed positive despite making life difficult for themselves.

"London Welsh are a good full-time side with a big pack and we were under pressure at half-time," Molenaar said.

"But it was pretty calm in the dressing room and we changed a couple of things in attack.

"They came at us pretty hard in the first half but their big pack seemed to run out of steam after the break and we played with a lot more composure."

Nottingham: Tonks, Jackson, Nirmalendran, Molenaar, Dodge, Taylor, Usasz, Parr, Duffey, Holford, Nimmo, Rouse, Hammond, Sherriff, Montagu.
Not Used: Fowkes, Loney, McDonald, Elphinston, Pilgrim, Thompson, Hayter.

Nottingham: Nottingham: Tries: Molenaar, Tonks, Dodge. Cons: Jackson 3.

Pens: Tonks, Jackson 2.

London Welsh: Harris, Sampson, Rock, Mackey, Lewis-Pratt, A. Thomas, Runciman, Williams, Koto Vuli, Doran-Jones, Corker, Powell, Mills, Audley, Bonner-Evans.
Not Used: George, Boot, Ratu-Lewaravu, Bell, Chilten, Murchie, Evans.

London Welsh: Tries: Harris, Sampson, A. Thomas.

Cons: Harris 3. Pens: Harris.

Att: 1,321.

Ref: P Knowles (RFU).