It was very much a game of two halves on Friday night as London Scottish came ever so close to pulling off one of the great comebacks as they almost overturned a 24 point half time deficit falling just short against an entertaining Nottingham side.
Playing into the wind against a side that has been performing well this year thanks to their exciting backs and willingness to thrown the ball around, it was always going to be a tough first forty for the Exiles. However, when referee Craig Maxwell-Keys ran under the posts to award a penalty try to the visitors after just four minutes, Joe Gray and his men were very helpful.
However, a series of moments of ill discipline and loose kicking allowed Nottingham a foothold into the game. Running the ball from everywhere the home side ran in five unanswered tries as Scottish could not muster much resistance for the remainder of the first half.
However, as the sides changed over and London Scottish had the wind at their backs, the tables began to change. First a lovely snipe around the corner from Jonny Law from the base of a ruck gave the Exiles as sniff. Under the sticks and Alec Lloyd-Seed would add the extras.
Next, Scottish would get the maul going on the 50th minute with loanee, Jack Musk barreling over thanks to the work of his forwards. A wonderful touchline conversion from Lloyd-Seed would see the gap cut to just ten points with half an hour on the clock.
Scottish would continue to bang on the door of Nottingham’s line but an amazing goal line stand from the hosts kept the visitors out in what proved to be a crucial passage of place as Scottish went through over 30 phases within touching distance of the try line.
The reprieve would only prove temporary however, as a beautiful no look pass from Harry Sheppard would set Bryn Bradley free down the middle to score with a couple of minutes on the clock.
Not content with just the two bonus points, London Scottish looked to run the ball from deep and won the penalty to kick up to the 22. However, the line out would go awry with the clock in the red allowing Nottingham to see the game out.
All in all, Scottish will bemoan first half errors but will take great heart from their second half showing and will come away with another two valuable league points.
