With the countdown now on to the start of the play-offs, London Welsh fired a warning shot at Old Deer Park on Saturday, as the Exiles condemned Championship pace setters Bristol to their first league defeat for more than two months.

Fresh from becoming the first side to win at Clifton Lane this season in the Championship, Lyn Jones’ men were in equally inspired mood as they once again came from behind to upset the odds.

Bristol hardly put a foot wrong in the first half and William Helu’s try and two penalties from the boot of fly half Tristan Roberts saw the away side lead 11-3.

But just as they had at Rotherham a week earlier, Welsh were a side transformed in the second half and they never looked back from Davies’ early penalty.

When the full back converted Hudson Tonga’uiha’s try – his sixth of the season - Welsh led for the first time in the game.

Hooker, and former Bristol player, Saul Nelson then dived over from similarly close range and despite replacement Bristol fly half Matt James landing two late penalties to secure a losing bonus point for the away side, the Exiles held on to avenge their 35-33 defeat at the Memorial Stadium earlier in the season.

Given events at the Memorial Stadium three months earlier, Old Deer Park braced itself for a thriller and the early signs were that we would not be disappointed.

Davies missed the chance to give the home the early lead only for Roberts to do likewise at the other end. Roberts’ miss, though, would prove less costly as a fine move was finished off by Helu.

Jack Tovey linked well with Wayne Thompson and when play was spread across the width of the pitch good hands created the space for Helu to burst clear. Roberts’ radar would again be off target.

In quick succession, first Fautua Otto and then Tonga’uiha showed their threat in running from deep – the latter momentarily looking like he might go all the way until a pincher hit came in.

Davies opened the Exiles’ account after hands in the ruck, but the home side were lucky to escape conceding almost immediately at the other end when Lee Beach knocked on the restart and Welsh were penalised at the scrum, only for Roberts to miss for a third time.

Flamboyance would slowly give way to brawn, however, with the early end-to-end action replaced by an all out arm wrestle.

It would be fourth time lucky for the Bristol fly half, as Welsh entered a period when they could do nothing right.

Joe Ajuwa looked like he might take all and sundry over the line with him, only to be penalised, and similarly when Davies’ kick took a wicked bounce into touch and Matt Corker and Nelson combined to secure possession, only for Welsh to again to incur the wrath of referee Dean Richards.

Indecisiveness nearly cost Welsh dear when Davies went back to retrieve a punt down field, only to be caught in possession, but the Exiles’ scrum held firm after Roberts had nudged the ball into the corner.

But Welsh would soon be the ones cursing an opportunity missed as Ross fired a penalty into the corner and the home pack rumbled their way up to the Bristol line.

It was a huge moment in the game, and it went Bristol’s way with the Exiles’ scrum penalised.

To add insult to injury, Roberts had rediscovered his radar and the fly half added a late penalty to see the league leaders take an 11-3 lead into half-time, after a first half in which Bristol’s lower error count had proved the difference.

Davies needed less than two minutes to cut that deficit, however, with Welsh having begun the second half looking like a side with purpose.

Welsh were more than holding their own in the forwards, particularly in the scrum, and when the Bristol scrum was penalised Ross arrowed the ball into touch to set up the home side’s opening try.

Ed Jackson secured the lineout ball with Ross then feeding Liam Gibson.

The winger offloaded to Denbee, who showed great strength to stay on his feet and take Welsh to within metres.

The Exiles slow it down and their composure was rewarded when Tonga’uiha went over from close range. Davies converted to give Welsh the lead for the first time.

Now it was Bristol’s turn not to take their chances, as James Merriman burst through only for the Bristol captain to lose the ball in the tackle as the challenge of last man Davies came in.

Showing an appetite for the fight, Welsh continued to take Bristol on up front, but it was a moment of subtlety that helped to unlock the door for a second time.

Davies prodded through for Ajuwa to chase and Bristol scrum half Ruki Tipuna had little choice but to escort the ball into touch.

The lineout was taken by Beach and the pack bulldozed their way up to line, with Nelson breaking off to dive over. Davies converted and Welsh could now believe.

That optimism were further swelled when James missed with his first attempt at the uprights, but he would make no mistake when given another sighter.

That came after Welsh were penalised in front of their own posts at a scrum, but it might have been more but for another last ditch tackle by Davies as Helu broke through with men in support.

The Welsh full back stepped up to ease Welsh nerves with his third penalty but James replied to make for a nervy finish, given events at the Memorial Stadium earlier in the season.

This time, though, there would be no late sting in the tail.