Lions Match report by Simon MacMichael
London Scottish Lions remain top of the Thames 2 Regional league table despite suffering just their second defeat of the season as Marlow took a hard-fought victory by a solitary point at King’s House Sports Ground in Chiswick.
The visitors, who had led for most of the contest until the Lions edged in front with little more than five minutes remaining, triumphed by 32-31 thanks to a late penalty kicked by full back Nick Carvey.
On a chilly, overcast but dry and wind-free afternoon, it was Marlow – whitewashed 45-0 when they hosted the Lions back in October – who opened the scoring after 20 minutes, deservedly so after their bright start to the match.
The try, scored by flanker Sam Tuckerman, followed a scrum on the Lions’ 5-metre line, Carvey putting his conversion through the posts for a 7-0 lead.
Within 5 minutes, the scores were level however following a quickly taken Lions’ penalty 10 metres from the line, flanker Cormac McCracken spotting the opportunity and charging across for the score, with full back Gavin Kinder adding the extras.
Marlow continued to threaten, denied a second try through an unkind bounce from a kick over the Lions’ heads, but shortly afterwards a similar move saw the ball rebound to the kicker’s hand to breach the home defence.
This time, the conversion attempt struck the post to give the Buckinghamshire side a 12-7 lead, though again their advantage was short-lived as a big push from the Lions pack following a lineout set up through a penalty kicked to touch saw Chris Rolfe touch down, leaving the scores tied on 12-12 just after the half hour mark.
Marlow quickly restored their lead after Tuckerman charged at the Lions’ line following a line-out, off-loading for scrum half Jake Rogers who touched down, Carvey kicking the conversion.
The Lions pushed hard to close the deficit, but despite the visitors temporarily finding themselves a man down after hooker Joshua Richardson was shown a yellow card, the score remained 19-12 in Marlow’s favour at the break.
They extended their lead five minutes into the second half as Richardson, his sin-binning over, crossed the line to clinch the bonus point, Carvey’s boot securing the conversion.
The hosts, however, immediately struck back through Rolfe’s second try of the afternoon, Kinder’s conversion bringing the Lions back to within seven points of their opponents at 26-19.
It was the narrowness of that lead that saw Carvey elect to kick for posts when Marlow were awarded a penalty 40 metres out, the ball sailing through the uprights to provide a 10-point cushion to the visitors.
Their lead was quickly narrowed though, Finlay Hillicks scoring a try for the Lions following a strong run from Jem Edwards, and Kinder securing the conversion to make the score 29-26 to Marlow.
In the closing minutes, it was the Lions who found themselves down to 14 men after Angus Clogg was shown a yellow card, but despite their numerical disadvantage, they moved into the lead for the first time in the match with Lachie Lowick getting the vital touch as the home pack pushed over the line.
This time, Kinder’s conversion attempt went narrowly wide of the target and there was still time for one more twist, with Carvey’s second successful penalty kick of the match securing a deserved victory for Marlow by 32 points to 31.
Final Score: London Scottish Lions 31 – 32 Marlow
Man of the Match: Cormac McCracken (flanker)
With 65 points from their 15 matches to date, the Lions now lead the Regional 2 Thames league table by 6 points over second placed HAC, with Belsize Park, who lost 19-23 to Old Priorians at the weekend, a further three points behind in third position.
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Next up for the Club, the Lions (1st) take on Teddington (10th) in a rescheduled game, and the Lions B’s (1st) are in a top of the table clash against Finchley 2nd XV (2nd).
Saturday 25 January:
Lions vs Teddington (A)
Lions B’s vs Finchley 2nd XV (H)
