1st XV match reports

National League Three South

London Scottish 29 Dings Crusaders 14

[another 14 photos click here]

Scottish reach half way in the league season a handily placed third in the table. The three matches lost were all away to top five teams, and with up to five points at stake each game, the two sides above are far from out of sight.

Dings brought not only the uncompromising qualities you expect from West Country teams, they also, through the lively scrum half Gasson, were always on the lookout for a sniff of a chance. The first came while the lunchers were still taking their seats. The Scots defence was still settling when Gasson spotted a gap close to the scrum and sent winger Wright-Hider through it to score.

Scottish quickly earned two penalties, the second of which Lee Cholewa sensibly popped between the posts from 35m out.

It took a while longer for Scottish to take the lead before Gareth Swales got over in the corner, but leaving Cholewa with a kick that fell just short.

It settled the Scots however, and the next try came from a fluid passage of play, ending with Anton Petzer’s sending Swales in unopposed, and able to give Cholewa an easy conversion.

Early in the second half the visitors broke clear and winger Edwards scored by the posts.

Greenslade-Jones put a penalty into the corner, to set up a catch and drive move which the visitors could not resist, and Alesbrook emerged with the ball for his sixth try of the season. Now the hunt was on for the bonus point and in the last play of the match a forward drive eventually got Petzer over the line, ball in hand.

top - Charlie Broughton grabs a high one despite apparently illegal attentions - photo Bob Starling; middle - Gareth Swales homes in on try #2; below, the front row get down to work - l-r Steve Millard, Stuart Silvester and "Matlock" Johnston - Photos Adrian Houstoun

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