1st XV match reports

On a beautifully crisp autumnal afternoon, London Scottish got back to winning ways on their travels, with a thoroughly convincing and at times thrilling 48-15 victory over a competitive and hard working Barnes side. Barnes, coached by ex London Scot Carson Russell, had won their previous two games against Richmond and Staines and proved durable and competitive opposition to the league leaders.

After a 23 mile walk from the clubhouse, the large crowd squeezed into the Meccano 24-seater stand and watched expectantly as the match kicked off in blustery conditions with Barnes having the breeze behind their backs. Despite a full international calendar, this was a proper ‘grass roots’ match and a decent sized crowd were not disappointed. 

The action was tough and uncompromising, as Barnes came out of the blocks firing on all cylinders and tore into Scottish upfront. In a scrappy start, a series of scrums resulted in a dubious penalty for Barnes in front of the posts, and with assistance from the considerable breeze, Andy Cox slotted the kick over to give the home side an early 3 point advantage, after just 4 minutes. There then followed a period of sustained Barnes pressure, which Scottish did well to repel. 

Having absorbed the early pressure Scottish then began to probe and go through their phases, gaining control of the half by using their superior backs to good effect. As the 1^st half progressed Barnes became increasingly starved of possession as the Scottish pack gradually took control. Despite a couple of early lineouts going astray, Lee Soper started to dominate and Scottish’s front five worked hard to put Barnes on the back foot. Scottish now began to gain the upper hand in the Scrum, and were quicker at the breakdown with Rowan Brown and skipper Alex Alesbrook again making plenty of carries and securing good possession.  

A lineout deep in Barnes territory brought a resulting catch and drive, the home side transgressed and Scottish were awarded a penalty. On a difficult day for kicking, Jamie Whelan dragged the kick wide, and 10 minutes of Scottish pressure, went frustratingly unrewarded. 

From the resulting drop out, Scottish rumbled forward, making good ground and Stuart Peel made a series of eye-catching breaks in an outstanding first half performance. From one of these, a great move by Peel, Heke and Jones resulted in another penalty, which Scottish kicked to the corner for a catch and drive. Barnes defended manfully and were able to repel the waves of Scottish attacks, however the pressure soon told and the Barnes Number 6, Paul Spencer was yellow carded for persistent offending. 

From the penalty, Scottish opted for a 5 metre scrum, and with Barnes on the back foot, Skipper and number 8 Alex Alesbrook picked up from the base of the scrum, ran a beautiful loop with Josh Heke, offloaded to Rory Greenslade-Jones who threw a perfect long pass, for the on-rushing Charles Broughton to score in the right hand corner. A well worked move and one that had been a long time coming. Whelan was just short with the conversion into the wind, and finally after 30 minutes Scottish had a 5-3 lead. 

The restart saw a short period of Barnes pressure and territory, as their big pack, again put Scottish under ferocious pressure. One grubber kick by the Barnes 10, Ben Thomas, saw Broughton touch down on his own line. Scottish ran the resulting drop out from their own 22, and a series of breaks and offloads, saw Ross Yiend popping up on the right wing, supporting Broughton, but was brought down just short of the line. From the resulting penalty Greenslade-Jones was harshly yellow carded for killing the ball, and it was 14 a side. 

The final 10 minutes of the 1^st half was spent with Scottish camped in the Barnes 22. A series of line outs, scrums and mauls, were repelled by the mostly legal Barnes defence and the home side survived until half time unscathed and 3-5 down. 

Scottish turned round for the 2^nd Half with the breeze behind them. Dave Ramsay was injured straight from the re-start to be replaced by a motivated Coleman McCarthy. Now Scottish started to build on the earlier pressure as Peel, Heke and Greenslade-Jones started to look very dangerous. 

After a scrappy start to the 2^nd half, Rowan Brown stole a Barnes lineout on halfway and made good yardage, a quick offload to the rampaging Alesbrook saw Scottish make huge dents in the Barnes defence and take them into the Barnes 22. Quick ball was secured and recycled to the left and Greenslade-Jones popped a great little inside pass to Matt Vines, at full pace and running a great line, who then offloaded to Peel, who powered over for a great score on 51 minutes. Whelan unluckily hit the posts with the conversion, and Scottish led 10-3.  

Scottish now started to take complete control as the hard work of the first 60 minutes started to catch up with Barnes and Scottish showed their undoubted class. Skipper Alesbrook continued some great work at the breakdown by securing turnover ball on halfway, receiving some dubious punishment from the lairy Barnes number 7, penalty to Scottish. Peel kicked to touch and from the lineout, a catch and drive saw the pack make 15 metres with a driving maul. The ball was fed out to Jones and Vines, again running great lines at pace, and the Barnes line was broken, the forwards again took the ball on, and it was recycled three times, before Heke took the ball at pace, broke a tackle, and off-loaded to Vines, who returned the favour to  Greenslade-Jones, who danced over the line and between the posts for a great score. This proved too much for the Barnes number 7, Christopher Sproats who lashed out at the try scorer, Jones and received a yellow card and 10 minutes in the bin. Whelan slotted over the conversion and Scottish were rampant at 17-3 up and Barnes were back down to 14 men. 

Scottish took the penalty from the re-start and again kicked to the right corner on Barnes 10 metre line. Scottish were unable to punish the 14 man Barnes from the lineout, as Barnes pulled down the resulting maul. Scottish duly destroyed the scrum, forcing Barnes to touch down on the line, and Scottish had a prime attacking position. Barnes duly collapsed the scrum, and from the penalty the ever alert Whelan made a dart and fed Heke on the line for a score in the corner. Whelan missed the tough conversion, 22-3 Scottish. 

Straight from the kick off, the ball was fed to the outstanding Peel, who made a fantastic 40 metre break, more quick ball was secured and fed to Broughton on the right, who was bundled into touch. Soper stole his second lineout of the day and fed Alesbrook, who again made an eye-catching carry, charging through the middle, taking 3 defenders to stop him, again quick ball presented by the forwards, found its way to Peel who jinked past 2 tackles for another score under the posts. Whelan slotted the conversion and the game was effectively over at 29-3 after a dazzling 15 minute spell for Scottish. 

By now Scottish were enjoying themselves and running the ball from deep, from one of these moves Peel found himself isolated and conceded a penalty. Thomas kicked to the corner, and from the resulting lineout, Barnes’ pack rumbled over the Scottish line and skipper, Tim McKellar was last up with the ball. Cox slots over the conversion, 10-29. 

As the game was stretched, and Barnes visibly tired, great work from the resurgent McCarthy in the loose won Scottish a penalty on half way. Costeloe (on for the splendid Peel), kicked to touch, and Scottish repeat the pattern of earlier, with a catch and drive – both props Johnson and Johnstone drove aggressively at the Barnes defence, creating space for McCarthy to draw two defenders and feed Alesbrook, who grounded a well deserved score. Whelan missed the conversion, but Scottish well in control at 34-10. 

With 10 minutes to play and Scottish, the visiting fans were treated to some great play from the 10, 12 and 13 channels – From yet another break, Greenslade-Jones executed a perfect scissors move with a rejuvenated Ross Yiend, who showed his considerable pace, to power over in the corner from half – way. Whelan slotted a tough kick from the right touchline to make it 41-10. 

As play became scrappy, David Box, a hooker by trade, replaced Rowan Brown and clearly relishing his move to the back of the scrum, made a great hit in midfield on the Barnes number 7. From the resulting turnover ball, Alesbrook again showed his class, as he laid the ball up for Greenslade-Jones, to make yet another break, hold off 2 tackles and slip the ball to Vines for a classy score under the posts. Whelan converted for 10-48 in injury time. 

With due credit to Barnes, they kept going throughout and their skipper and tight head, Tim McKellar provided the moment of the match, as he found himself  in front of the Scottish posts, 40 metres out. Instead of running at the Scottish defence he tried a deft kick over the top with all the subtlety of Vanessa Feltz after 12 pints of Deuchars, and was wrapped up by the startled Matt Johnson. There was still time though for Barnes to get another consolation try, with Paul Spencer going over after a catch and drive from a lineout on Scottish’s 22. The conversion was missed and Scottish recorded a convincing and classy 48-15 victory over a very handy and competitive Barnes team. 

Despite Ealing beating Old Albanians by 50 points, and going into top spot on goal difference, it was heartening to see Scottish play with such cohesion and skill. The supporters went away happy and in good heart – as not many teams will go to Barnes and come away with such an emphatic win. It was a sturdy test upfront and pleasing to see Scottish gradually take control and let their undoubted class show. Roll on Staines on 25^th November!!

Nick Evans