Match Report: London Scottish Lions 24–22 Bracknell RFC
Regional 1 South Central – Round 21
Bracknell RFC
Saturday, 15:00 KO
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London Scottish Lions produced a remarkable comeback to secure a dramatic 24–22 victory away at Bracknell RFC, overturning a significant deficit in challenging conditions. In a game where the Lions trailed for the majority, resilience, set-piece dominance and composure under pressure proved decisive. The result keeps the Lions firmly in the hunt for a playoff position as the season approaches its climax.
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It’s not often the rugby highlight of your correspondent’s weekend isn’t London Scottish Lions. But watching on Friday night as the grandad of Lion Calum Murdoch, Dr Murray Kirkwood, a few weeks shy of his 100th birthday, delivered the match ball for Glasgow Warriors on Friday night, will take some beating.
Spoiler alert A 2-point away win at Bracknell came very close!
Playing into the sun (which seemed unlikely during the hailstorm as the teams warmed up) but downhill against a large Bracknell team, the Lions had the better of the opening 10 minutes but didn’t manage to fashion any genuine scoring chances. That didn’t, however, prevent Logan Trotter from getting the ball in space after 14 minutes with 3 men to beat. He beat 2 of them, and then found Cammy Wray (for once, his granny was the second favourite Lions’ grandparent) on his inside to take the scoring pass and put the Lions into a 0-5 lead.
A dropped kick off, a misfiring lineout, an interception after a Dublin Joe Byrne line break, and some ordinary defence all combined to give the hosts good field position and plenty possession for the remainder of the first half. The big Bracknell ball carriers proved difficult to stop, and the raucous home crowd cheered three tries as the home team finished the half 19-5 to the good.
An early second half penalty to make the score 22-5 to Bracknell felt like curtains for the Lions, but momentum swung… Jem Edwards finished off a lovely line break down the right after a chip from Hill and a regather from McLelland to bring the score to 22-10, while the forwards, including eventual man of the match Mick Baldock began to gain some scrum dominance. Flynt Preston’s parents, fresh off the boat from NZ, saw their boy be unlucky to miss out on a couple of turnover penalties as the Lions battled. It should be noted that at this point the Lions were grateful to Cormac McCracken turning up to run touch in full kit – Preston brought one boot with him and played in McCracken’s boots!
The Lions felt a long way out of the match as a couple of chances went begging, but a score from Baldock as he carried three defenders over the line with him allowed the under the weather Wray to convert to make the score 22-17 to Bracknell with 20 minutes to go.
The big Bracknell ball carriers were having less of an impact by this stage, but a line break down the left and a 5-metre scrum were chances that went begging as the hosts stayed ahead. Pressure from the Lions in the Bracknell 22 began to tell, as penalties led to lineouts and scrums and the Lions threatened. A penalty under the posts allowed replacement scrum half Ben Molloy to tap and go, diving over for a try close to the left upright. A tricky conversion from Wray up the slope and across the breeze (sounding very much like one of your correspondent’s golf shots) took the Lions into a 24-22 lead with just under 10 minutes to go.
The Lions demonstrated a huge amount of heart from there, defending solidly, including several scrums close to their goalline, as they held out for a close win.
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This was a win built on resilience, belief and a refusal to accept defeat. From 22-5 down, the Lions showed character in abundance to turn the game around and claim a crucial away victory.
Having already secured a playoff spot last week with a dominant 83-21 victory over Hammersmith & Fulham, the Lions now head into the final game of the season knowing they have the ability to grind out results even when not at their best.
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Tries: Cameron Wray x1 (14), Jem Edwards x1 (46), Michael Baldock x1 (60), Ben Molloy x1 (73)
Conversions: Cameron Wray x2 (61, 74)
MotM: Michael Baldock
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Next Round: Saturday 11 April
Lions vs Camberley (H)
– Venue: King’s House Sports Ground (W4 2SH)
– KO: 15:00
– Last game of the season!
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Lions Bs vs Finchley 2nd XV
– Venue: Finchley RFC (N12 0PD)
– KO: TBC
