DAVID Paice capped his 250th London Irish appearance with a man-of-the-match display in Saturday's 35-12 victory against rivals London Welsh.

Paice put the gloss on an outstanding individual performance with a try in the bonus-point victory at Madejski Stadium.

Welsh were expected to offer a thorough examination of Irish's promotion credentials in the battle of the Exiles.

But Nick Kennedy's hosts were far superior on the day as they maintained their 100% start with a sixth straight win to keep them top of the Greene King IPA Championship.

It was the perfect way for hooker Paice, a mainstay of their pack for the past 13 years, to celebrate reaching his appearance landmark with the 19th try of his club career.

Before that,Tommy Bell had booted Exiles in to a 9-0 lead with three successful penalties.

The hosts notched the first of their four tries on the half-hour mark when centre Fergus Mulchrone pounced on Bell's chip ahead before sliding over the whitewash for his second touchdown in two games.

Bell made no mistake with the conversion to put to home side 16-0 in front which they maintained until the break.

Irish were dominating proceedings as London Welsh struggled to cope with the power of the home team's pack led by the imperious Ben Franks.

Paice's big moment arrived just after the interval when he scored his team's second try of the afternoon.

The former England international barrelled over the line following a catch and drive move, and Bell's superb touchline conversion gave Irish a 23-0 lead.

Try number three followed 10 minutes later and was a carbon copy of Paice's score, this time Sebastian De Chaves going over after more excellent work from the Irish pack. Bell missed a tricky conversion but Kennedy's men led 28-0 in a one-sided contest.

The home team grabbed their bonus-point try soon after though Brendan McKibbin who has replaced the impressive Scott Steele at scrum half.

The Australian No.9 took a quick tap penalty and sniped his way over the line, with Bell's conversion making it 35-0 to the hosts.

With the victory already secured, Kennedy allowed Paice the honour of departing to a standing ovation from the Madejski Stadium crowd when he was replaced by Jason Harris-Wright with nine minutes to go.

London Welsh, to their credit, refused to give up and replied with two late tries of their own.

Sensing Irish had taken their foot off the gas, Welsh winger Kristian Phillips coasted in at the corner then Lovejoy Chawatama put Rob Lewis away for another score.

But that failed to dampen what was another memorable win for Irish and a momentous day for Paice.

Irish now face back-to-back British & Irish Cup fixtures with a trip to Ospreys this Saturday (2.30pm) followed by a home clash against Connacht Eagles at Madejski Stadium the following week.

London Irish: Marshall, Ojo (Fowlie, 48, 60, 76), Hearn, Mulchrone, Tikoirotuma, Bell, Steele (McKibbin 59), Court (Elrington 66), Paice (c) (Harris-Wright 71), Franks (Hoskins 54), Robson (Lloyd 59), De Chaves, Coman (Trayfoot 54), Cowan, Treviranus.