LONDON Welsh’s wait for a first win of the season goes on after an agonising defeat against Edinburgh yesterday.

It looked as though the Exiles were on their way to recording a maiden success when they raced into a 13-6 lead at Murrayfield after just 27 minutes of the European Challenge Cup Pool 4 clash.

But Welsh failed to score another point, and were ultimately undone by two late converted tries in five second-half minutes.

Although Justin Burnell’s side trailed to a first-minute penalty from Tom Heathcote, the Exiles regrouped and were soon ahead.

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A penalty from Gordon Ross levelled the scores, before Welsh went in front when Rhys Crane crossed for a 15th-minute try, which Ross converted to make it 10-3.

Heathcote landed another kick, and Crane was yellow-carded, but Ross restored his side’s seven-point lead with his second successful penalty of the game.

Neither side could find another breakthrough in the opening period as Welsh went into the break 13-6 ahead.

However, as in the opening half, Edinburgh started the better and Willem Nel touched down just two minutes in to reduce the deficit.

The conversion attempt was missed, and a host of changes from both sides upset the flow of the game.

With 15 minutes to go, Welsh held a 13-11 lead.

But two tries in quick succession from the hosts ended any hopes of a first success.

Sam Hidalgo-Clyne scored the first, and then promptly added the conversion.

Five minutes later, Neil Cochrane scored to stretch the lead further, Hidalgo-Clyne again on target for the extra points.

It left Welsh with nine minutes to try and mount a comeback, but they were unable to find a way through and remain pointless.

The reverse fixture sees Edinburgh visit the Kassam Stadium next Sunday.

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