Matt Parr scores a try for London Irish
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Matches: London Welsh 12 - 50 London Irish

Alex Lewington scored a hat-trick as London Irish thrashed Welsh 50-12, ensuring the hosts' miserable season continued with a 16th Aviva Premiership defeat on the bounce.

The result emphasised the gulf between Welsh and all the other sides in the Premiership as they could not make a game of it against the side placed immediately above them.

Irish led 38-7 at half-time before taking off a number of key players to allow the opposition to make a better fist of it in the second half.

This was probably Welsh's last chance of adding to their solitary point, for their remaining six league matches are all against sides placed seventh or higher.

Irish scored tries through Lewington (three), Tom Fowlie, Matt Parr, Andrew Fenby and there were two more from Shane Geraghty, who also added four conversions. Chris Noakes kicked a second-half conversion.

Welsh replied with tries from James Tincknell and Taione Vea with one conversion by Will Robinson.

The hosts made seven changes following last week's defeat at Gloucester. World Cup winner, Piri Weepu, had been loaned out to Wasps for the remainder of the season so Rob Lewis came in at scrum half. Nick Scott, Opeti Fonua and club captain Matt Corker all returned to the starting line-up after recovering from injury.

Irish changed four after last Sunday's defeat at home to Leicester as Leo Halavatu, Nic Rouse and Matt Parr were recalled up front with James Short replacing the injured Topsy Ojo on the wing.

It took Irish only three minutes to score the first try. A clever kick from Geraghty pinned the Welsh in their own 22 and strong runs from Tom Guest and Ofisa Treviranus provided the platform for Lewington to force his way over.

Within two minutes, Irish were over again. A handling movement by the hosts broke down on the half-way line which allowed Fowlie to kick ahead and win the race for the touchdown.

However Welsh responded with an excellent try when a neat pass from Rob Lewis put Fonua though a big gap in the visitors' defence, with Tincknell on hand to collect the scoring pass.

Robinson converted but Irish scored their third try after only 17 minutes. Treviranus and Eamonn Sheridan put the home defence on the back foot which allowed Geraghty to take advantage by strolling through a huge hole for a try which he converted for a 17-7 lead at end of the first quarter.

It was Geraghty who secured the bonus point for his team. An Irish throw on the home line had gone badly astray but Geraghty was alert to race onto the ball and brush aside some weak tackling for the fourth try.

Welsh woes continued when they lost Scott and Dean Schofield with injuries in quick succession to be replaced by Olly Barkley and James Down.

Irish sealed the game before half-time with two tries. Firstly Parr finished off a line-out drive before Lewington beat a couple of defenders to send Fenby over, while Geraghty converted both for a 38-7 interval lead.

Geraghty and scum half Scott Steele departed at half-time but it made no difference as Lewington soon raced away for his second after a neat off-load from Tom Guest.

Fenby was sin-binned for the Irish with the home side taking advantage when replacement Vea drove over from close range.

Welsh were the better side for the remainder of the match but - with the final movement of the game - Lewington evaded a couple of defenders to complete his hat-trick.