Match Report – London Scottish C Lions vs Hammersmith & Fulham 3rd XV
Middlesex Merit Div 2 – Round 7
Venue: King’s House Sports Ground
Saturday 8 November, KO 12:30
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Saturday marked another busy day for the London Scottish Lions, with all three teams in action. The C Lions kicked off a home double-header at King’s House against a well-drilled Hammersmith & Fulham 3rd XV, while the Lions B’s followed later in the afternoon and the 1st XV travelled to Dulwich to face Old Alleynians.
Despite a strong effort from the home side, Hammersmith & Fulham proved too sharp and too organised, running out 50–24 winners. However, the C Lions battled fiercely throughout, securing a deserved try bonus point late in the game — a testament to their determination and refusal to back down.
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Match Summary
The visitors started quickly, crossing for the opening try inside five minutes. The C Lions defence held firm under repeated pressure, but eventually the line broke after a clever switch play down the right wing.
London Scottish responded well, and after a strong spell of possession, Freddie Gray bulldozed his way over from short range to bring the score to 5–7 after 16 minutes. From there, the game swung back and forth, but as the half wore on, Hammersmith & Fulham’s numbers and structure began to tell. A few defensive lapses from the home side, forced by sustained pressure, allowed the visitors to cross twice more before the break, taking a 21–10 lead despite another score from Gray following a series of patient pick-and-go phases.
The second half followed a similar pattern — flashes of quality from the C Lions mixed with the visitors’ sharp finishing and depth off the bench. Between the 36th and 59th minutes, H&F ran in four unanswered tries to stretch their lead to 45–12, punishing even the smallest defensive gaps.
Still, the Lions refused to fold. Freddie Gray completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute, capping a standout performance in both attack and defence. With time running out and the result beyond doubt, the hosts continued to fight for a valuable fourth try — and were rewarded in the 78th minute when Josh Steel powered over following a series of dominant carries. Captain Graham Thomson added the extras to close the game at 24–50 and ensure the C Lions left with something to show for their efforts.
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A Spirited Effort and True Rugby Sportsmanship
This fixture perfectly embodied the spirit of grassroots rugby. Hammersmith & Fulham, who field four men’s sides, travelled with extra numbers and generously lent the C Lions two players — Theo and Seb — to ensure a competitive contest. Both stepped up superbly, and the club extends its thanks for their contribution on the day.
Freddie Gray’s Man of the Match performance was a clear highlight, but there were also strong displays from Josh Steel, who worked tirelessly around the park, and Graham Thomson, who led from the front at scrum half with quick thinking and aggressive sniping around the breakdown.
This was the C Lions’ first on-field loss of the season, but there were plenty of positives to take — bonus points on the board, new players stepping up, and a fighting spirit that never wavered. The focus now turns to next weekend’s fixture against league leaders Hampstead 2nd XV, where the boys will look to bounce back and return to winning ways.
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Tries: Freddie Gray x3 (16’, 34’, 65’), Josh Steel (78’)
Conversions: Graham Thomson (79’)
Man of the Match: Freddie Gray – relentless in defence, explosive in attack, and a hat-trick hero.
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Saturday 15 November
Next up for the Lions, just the one team out next weekend:
C Lions vs Hampstead 2nd XV (A)
– Venue: Hendon RFC (NW4 1RL)
– KO: TBC
