1st XV match reports |
|
| September 10th 2005 |
London League Division One |
|
London Scottish 29 Old Albanians 3 Scottish duly disposed of awkward opponents to win their first league fixture of the season, but a game which began in lashing rain was never going to be much of a spectacle, nor one in which a new winger would choose to make his debut. As it was former Scotland international Kenny Logan did what was expected, but when the ball did find its way to him, rushed passes were hard to handle and when he did get clean ball he usually got two or three defenders simultaneously. Nevertheless at 33 he remains a class player with much to offer and his day will, hopefully for Scottish, come. Even so four tries to nil was a satisfactory result, and it was encouraging to see the defensive solidity, which must in part be a tribute to the coaching in this respect being given by Wasps’ England rugby league legend Shaun Edwards. The early exchanges were messy as the rain which had begun half an hour before the start swept the ground. OAs missed an 8th minute penalty but converted a second chance ten minutes later for their only score; already by that time they were a try down, Tom Williams and Stuart Peel having set up Matt Vines who found so much space he didn’t need to offer a debut score to Logan, but ran in the try himself. Williams converted. Soon Scottish lost Mat Johnson to a yellow card for a mystery offence and that brought a ten minute debut for Scottish Exiles U21s prop Joe Reid. Scottish then wasted a couple of good opportunities before Williams slotted a 33rd minute penalty, and another when Alex Alesbrook failed to cross the line in a 2 on 1. With Templeman also having an enforced ten minute break ( OAs Blackwell joining him) the game remained fractured until the last quarter. Williams missed a penalty attempt before finally a good backs move gained territory, OAs offended in midfield, Hepworth went to the bin, Williams kicked for touch and from the lineout and drive, the pack powered Johnson over the line. Immediately Scottish scored again, Alesbrook, David Watt and Stuart Peel combining from the restart to put Lee Soper clear. Alesbrook himself got the fourth, capitalising on quick ball from the back of the scrum and a neat blind-side move to cap a display that earned the sponsors' bottle of Jura Malt Whisky. Paul McFarland 15. Matt Vines, 14. Callum Morris, 13. Stuart Peel, 12. Josh Heke (Chris Webb) , 11. Kenny Logan, 10. Tom Williams, 9. Jerry Costeloe, 1. Mat Johnson, 2. Paul Byford, 3. Magnus Macdonald, 4. Clynton Jancke, 5. Lee Soper, 6. James Templeman (James Street), 7.David Watt (Joe Reid 20-30 mins), 50), 8. Alex Alesbrook Scorers: Tries: Vines, Johnson, Soper, Alesbrook Cons: Williams 3; Pen: Williams Yellow Cards: Johnson 19 mins, Templeman 38 mins Whyte and Mackay Man of the Match Alex Alesbrook |
|
