1st XV match reports

National League Three South

London Scottish 15 Rosslyn Park 5

Scottish duly completed the double over their neighbours, but with a blank second half, failed to score the four tries need for a bonus point. They go into 2008 six points behind leaders Mount’s Bay.

On a cold and misty day a good crowd of 1,200 or so turned up for this local derby despite the attractions – or otherwise – of preparing for the festive season. Surprisingly, it was a first league meeting at Richmond for these two adversaries, who first played each other in the 1880s but after leagues were introduced in 1987, promotion and relegation kept them apart.

The first score took 20 minutes to arrive, but not for want of effort. First blood should have gone to Park, but Tony Paul’s penalty attempt in the first minute dropped short from 40m.

Then Lee Cholewa – in his last game before he leaves for four months’ travelling – clattered the post with an effort from a similar distance, after Park had been penalised for not releasing.

Finally, after conceding territory and possession for most of the opening period, Park offended again, failing to roll away at the tackle, and Cholewa duly opened the score.

The Scots continued to dominate and the only surprise was how long it took to get the first try, but on the half hour a series of attacks was capped by a driving maul, which propelled Stuart Silvester over the line.

Then from a scrum five metres out Alex Alesbrook powered over for the second score, which Cholewa converted with almost the last play of the half.

The only score of the second half came late on when Park profited from a penalty, kicked to the corner, and drove Cooper over for the try.

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