Match Report: London Scottish Lions 83–21 Hammersmith & Fulham
Regional 1 South Central – Round 20
King’s House Sports Ground
Saturday 21 March, 15:00 KO
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London Scottish Lions delivered a devastating attacking performance on Ladies Day at King’s House, running in 13 tries to secure an emphatic 83–21 victory over Hammersmith & Fulham. In front of a bumper home crowd during a celebratory triple header, the result further cements the Lions’ position among the league’s frontrunners as they push towards a playoff place in the closing stages of the season.
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A bumper Ladies Day crowd basked in the King’s House sunshine on Saturday for another west London derby, this time against Hammersmith & Fulham.
To recognise the day, the Lions were resplendent in new pink kit, sponsored specially for the day by Knowledge Visual. In your correspondent’s opinion, the France retro kit worn recently against England was slightly more fashionable than the Lions kit, but only just!
Playing into the sun, the Lions were initially under pressure as H&F got off to a strong start in the search for the points they need to climb off the foot of the league table. The Lions were able to soak up the pressure, and took the lead after 12 minutes when Callum MacTaggart scored following a nice backs’ move after a dominant scrum. Nick Hill converted, but exited the game temporarily a few minutes later. H&F kicked an excellent 50:22, and Hill decided kicking the ball away to prevent a quick lineout was the right play. Having seen jail time given for less, your correspondent considered the yellow card a lucky escape for the scrum half. H&F were able to take advantage of the extra man, levelling things up at 7-7 after 18 minutes.
This was to be the last time the scores were level. Despite being a man down, the powerful Lions scrum drove over for Mark Bright to touch down after 20 minutes, Cammy Wray adding the extras on a day that surely meant a lot to his granny. Jem Edwards was next to score, finishing off a break down the left to score close to the posts, Hill, back on the pitch, making the score 21-7 after 30 minutes. The Lions were playing some lovely controlled rugby, with the entire team looking dangerous with the ball in hand. Logan Trotter scored what will surely be one of his easiest ever tries (think Jamie Ritchie v England this year), Dylan Westoby scored from a lineout driving maul (Chris Rolfe’s location at this point was unknown) and MacTaggart picked up his second of the day, all before half time!
A lead of 38-7 at the half suggested the game was as good as done, but H&F had other ideas, scoring twice early in the second half to tighten things up. It suddenly felt like the Lions needed to be the team to score next, and thankfully Mark Bright, from another pushover try, put the game beyond H&F following a kick off recovery by the Lions which ended with a H&F yellow card on their goal line, the penalty allowing the Lions to select a scrum.
Much like in the first half, momentum then allowed the Lions to run in several tries in short order – Cammy Wray cut a beautiful line from full back to score, Lachlan Lowick charged down the main stand touchline like the back we all know he wants to be, MacTaggart claimed his hat trick, followed soon after by Bright from another (!) scrum pushover, MacTaggart then claimed his fourth when it looked easier to give Trotter his second, before Flynt Preston rounded off the scoring with a run-in under the posts. The volume of scoring was a little overwhelming by this stage, and your correspondent can only confirm that, between them, Hill and Wray managed to kick some of the conversions
and to miss the others.
The Angus Dandie fan club (led by Sheila) deserve a mention at this point, Dandie getting the loudest cheer of the day as he came off the bench. The wince as he was sat down on his first carry was nearly as audible!
A fine team performance, built from a dominant scrum, allowed the backs to show their incisiveness against a spirited H&F.
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This was a statement performance from the Lions at a crucial stage of the season. Combining forward dominance with clinical finishing out wide, they overwhelmed their opponents and provided a fitting spectacle for a memorable Ladies Day at the Club.
With the playoff race reaching its climax, performances like this will only build confidence within the squad. Attention now turns to the final rounds of the season, where the Lions will look to secure their place and carry this momentum into the business end of the campaign.
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Tries: Callum MacTaggart x4 (12, 43, 69, 82), Mark Bright x3 (20, 55, 79), Jem Edwards x1 (27), Logan Trotter x1 (35), Dylan Westoby x1 (39), Cameron Wray x1 (61), Lachlan Lowick x1 (64), Flynt Preston x1 (84)
Conversions: Nick Hill x5 (13, 28, 44, 56, 83), Cameron Wray x3 (21, 62, 70)
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Next Round: Saturday 28 March
Lions vs Bracknell (A)
– Venue: Bracknell RFC (RG12 2UG)
– KO: 15:00
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C Lions – Awarded AWO (Away Walkover) after Old Streetonians 3rd XV conceded the match to them