1st XV match reports

EDF Energy National Trophy Round One

Ipswich 5 London Scottish 66

Scottish cruised to the next round, scoring ten tries in an unexacting win over over their spirited but limited hosts from three leagues below.

Watched by the equal lowest away support of the past ten seasons (three, excluding small children...), Scottish played well within themselves, scoring at regular intervals and taking the opportunity to develop their rhythm after last week's defeat.

For the home side, a place in the National Trophy was the reward for their 10-6 win over Bury St Edmunds in last season’s Suffolk Cup final. Ipswich, founded in 1870, gave rugby league legend Martin Offiah his first taste of the 15-man game in the early 1980s.

But the men from London Three North East looked in awe at the start, and stood off their opponents, gifting Scottish four quick scores, though Lacey, who received a dead leg as he crossed for the opener, would disagree that the home side were shirking the tackle.

Even so, for twenty minutes it looked as if an embarrassing score was on. Duncan Hayward, Anton Petzer and Rory Greenslade Jones all cantered through gaping holes in the home defence to give Lee Cholewa straightforward pots at goal, as Scottish went 26-0 up in 18 minutes.

But the home side took a collective deep breath and knuckled down to the matter of resistance. They then scored a fine try in the corner through Simon Elbrow and proceeded not only to deny Scottish for  most of the rest of the half, but to grab for themselves the lion's share of the ball. The only further score came from Owain Walbyoff, with Hayward taking over the kicking with success.

Soon after half time Scottish scored in another flurry: Raynn Bruce went in under the posts after a penalty, and Greenslade-Jones sent Yiend over, before Charlie Broughton made a long dash for the corner. Hayward converted all three, as he did the first of Matt Fitzgerald's brace, the second rower one of seven subs used as coach Terry O'Connor took the opportunity to give everyone a run.

All in all it was no doubt a useful run out for Scottish, who met worthy  resistance at close quarters, but who always found space when they looked for it.

Paul McFarland

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