Contesting the club’s first cup final since its 1985 John Player Cup final defeat to Bath at Twickenham, James Lewis claimed a hat-trick with Kieran Murphy and Nathan Trevett also touching down as London Welsh picked up its third piece of silverware in four years.
“I’m really pleased for the players. It’s been a tough season, but the last few months we’ve really stepped it up, built confidence and we’ve improved so much,” said Phillips.
“The result today was a nice reward, not only for how much we’ve improved as a side, but for the hard work that everyone has put in. So I’m delighted.”
The Exiles led 14-3 at the break thanks to two tries from James Lewis with the winger’s second coming on the stroke of half-time after a sustained spell of Yorkshire pressure, which included the Welsh forwards repelling two five-metre lineout drives.
Chris Walker’s early second half score did reduce the gap, but more outstanding Welsh defence ensured the home side couldn’t build on it, before tries from Murphy and Trevett saw the visitors pull away.
“To have that discipline, organisation and determination to defend our try line was key to winning the game,” said Phillips.
“As we then inched ahead on the scoreboard Yorkshire had to try and work their back, but our discipline and mind-set to stay within our structures was outstanding and it meant they never really got the chance to get back into the game.
“That [Kieran Murphy’s try] was a massive momentum swinging moment. When they would have expected to build on their try, we scored and that took all of the momentum out of them.
“Our tackling was really good today. In the first half we were maybe a little bit passive in the wide channels, but once we fixed that there no real space for them to go.”
James Lewis’ hat-trick try rounded off a superb team display, but Phillips singled out captain Ryan Hodson and full back Chris Elder for special mention.
“That’s the Chris Elder we know – he was outstanding. He’s a big man and an athlete. In defence, he covered Sinfield’s crossfield kick superbly and in attack made the break for the last try, but even as he’s getting tackled he was still able to give a perfect pass to James Lewis to score,” said Phillips.
“Ryan is a top player and really good in the breakdown area, but he took it up another level today.”
British and Irish Cup success was a welcome way to sign off the season for Welsh – although two rounds of league action still remain – after defeat to Yorkshire Carnegie at Old Deer Park ended the Exiles’ hopes of breaking into the play-offs.
“To win this cup is fantastic and we’re really happy, but when we look back on this season we’ll reflect that this team always had this potential,” said Phillips.
“We had to get through certain moments to reach this point, but we just got through them a little bit too late. The way we’re playing now I really feel we could beat anybody.”
