Match Report: Worthing RFC 45–24 London Scottish Lions
Regional 1 South Central – Round 15
Venue: Worthing RFC
Saturday 17 January, 14:00 KO
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The London Scottish Lions suffered a frustrating 45–24 defeat away at Worthing RFC on Saturday afternoon, relinquishing second-half control after a tightly contested opening period. Having climbed into second place the previous week with victory over Tunbridge Wells, the Lions were looking to consolidate their position, but a dominant Worthing display after the break proved decisive. Despite the loss, the Lions hold on to second place in the table, with key fixtures ahead for their nearest rivals likely to shape the standings further.
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Little did your correspondent know that his love of tractors as a wee boy growing up in the west of Scotland would help him identify a tractor at Worthing rugby cub on Saturday, but more of that later…
The Lions headed down the A3 to Worthing in a confident mood this week after a great win against Tunbridge Wells the week before. Some availability issues saw Nick Hill start in the unfamiliar position of stand off, and the Lions were also without Jack Parkhurst after a midweek operation on his ruptured patella tendon.
Worthing put on an excellent pre-match lunch of fish and chips, although Mitch Johnson’s hopes of barramundi under the batter seemed optimistic. An inkling of the afternoon to follow appeared when the news, to the completely fair glee of the Worthing supporters, broke that the Lions bus had got stuck in the mud trying to turn around outside the club. A big thank you, and with hindsight the Man of the Match award, is due to the Worthing member who left the pre-match lunch to get his New Holland tractor (painted blue. John Deeres are green, Massey Fergusons red) to pull the bus free from the mud.
Unfortunately from there, things didn’t improve for the Lions. After a tight opening 15 minutes, Worthing took the lead with a well worked move off the tail of a lineout. The Lions were able to hit back with a try in the left corner from Cormac McCracken after a penalty was kicked to the corner and the forwards took the ball through some phases. The excellent touchline conversion from Harry Churchill made it 7-7. The Lions then managed, for the only time in the match, to go ahead, with captain Joe Emson scoring from the back of a line out maul. Your correspondent has seen that kind of try once or twice before.
A try for Worthing right at the end of the first half made the half time score 14-14.
The second half, truth be told, was a bit of a disaster for the Lions. Worthing played with pace and power, and always looked the more threatening team. They scored the try of the day, a long range team attack down the left wing, after 54 minutes before Jem Edwards was yellow carded a couple of minutes later for being offside defending a goalline ruck. A penalty try awarded insult to injury, and Worthing were well clear. As the Lions chased the game an interception then another try blew the score out to 45-14 to Worthing.
Back to a full complement when Edwards’ sin binned finished, the Lions were at least able to claim a 4-try bonus point. Callum MacTaggart made a 60 metre break down the clubhouse touchline, using Fergus Chapman as a decoy as he dummied 2 defenders before scoring under the posts, while Angus Troop then touched down from a close range ruck towards the end of what was, for the Lions, a disappointing afternoon but a well deserved win for Worthing.
The long trip home was made a little easier by the victors kindly supplying some beers for the bus!
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While the defeat was a setback, the Lions remain second in the league, and with teams placed third through sixth all still due to face Jersey, there remains an opportunity for a gap to open up again. The focus now turns to responding quickly, tightening up defensively, and rediscovering the form that lifted the side into the promotion conversation.
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Tries: Cormac McCracken (30), Joe Emson (35), Callum MacTaggart (70), Angus Troop (73)
Conversions: Harry Churchill x2 (31, 36)
MotM: Worthing RFC Tractor Driver (honorary)
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Next Round: Saturday 24 January
Lions B’s vs Quintin (H)
– Venue: King’s House Sports Ground (W4 2SH)
– KO: 14:00
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C Lions vs Belsize Park 4th XV (H)
– Venue: King’s House Sports Ground (W4 2SH)
– KO: 13:00
