In a fixture steeped in history and rivalry, the London Scottish Lions B’s faced Ealing 1871 2nd XV in what promised to be a thrilling clash. With the Lions B’s sitting second in the league and coming off the back of two dominant performances, the visitors were eager to continue their momentum. Ealing, meanwhile, were seeking their first win of the season and hoped to harness the passion of this long-standing rivalry to turn their fortunes around.
The early exchanges set the tone for a fiercely contested game, with both forward packs battling hard at every breakdown. Despite Ealing’s strength in the scrums, it was the Lions B’s who raced ahead with three early tries. Cormac McCracken opened the scoring in the 8th minute, followed by quickfire tries from Luke Hosking (12th minute) and Ross Currie (15th minute). Ealing responded with their first score on the 20-minute mark, but the Lions B’s quickly answered with two more tries from the unstoppable Luke Hosking, who completed his hat-trick by the 31st minute. George Fisher’s precision with the boot added four conversions, giving the Lions B’s a commanding 33-7 lead.
In the closing minutes of the half, Ealing capitalised on an ambitious Lions’ play, intercepting a pass and running 65 meters to score. However, the Lions B’s rebounded immediately, with George Fisher slicing through the defense and setting up Ross Currie for a cross-field kick. Although the kick was slightly awry, Hosking calmly collected it, turned, and secured his fourth try just before halftime.
Half-Time: London Scottish Lions B’s 38 – 14 Ealing 1871 2nd XV
The second half saw Ealing start with renewed energy, dominating in the scrums and applying sustained pressure. While the Lions B’s added an early try from Joe Emson in the 50th minute, Ealing’s relentless attack began to take its toll. A high tackle earned the Lions B’s their first yellow card, followed shortly by another for scrum infringements – with a penalty try for Ealing quickly following from the next scrum.
Down to 13 men, the Lions B’s displayed remarkable resilience. Despite being outnumbered, they scored two brilliant tries through George Fisher (64th minute) and Fraser Waddell (72nd minute), outscoring Ealing 14-7 during the yellow card period. Once back to full strength, the Lions B’s were firmly in control, but Ealing managed a consolation try just before the final whistle, leaving the score at 57-28 in favor of the Lions B’s.
This game highlighted the Lions B’s dominance across the field, even when faced with significant challenges. Ealing’s strength in the scrums was undeniable, but the Lions B’s superior all-round play proved decisive. It was a fantastic contest, and while the Lions B’s took the victory, Ealing’s powerful pack will surely earn them success in the games to come.
Final Score: London Scottish Lions B’s 57 – 28 Ealing 1871 2nd XV
Man of the Match: Luke Hosking (pictured)
