Match Report – London Scottish Lions vs Maidenhead RFC
Regional 1 South Central – Round 7
Venue: King’s House School Sports Ground
Saturday 25 October, KO 15:00
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King’s House hosted another dominant Lions performance on Saturday afternoon, as the side powered past Maidenhead 50–7 in a commanding display that showcased both structure and flair. The win continues the Lions’ strong start to life at Level 5, with the side now beginning to hit real form midway through the first half of the season.
The pre-match weather did little to inspire attacking rugby, with heavy rain during warm-ups and a strong crosswind challenging both teams early on. Maidenhead started brightly, using the wind to gain territory, but despite the pressure, the Lions’ defence held firm — organised, physical, and disciplined.
After a cagey opening 15 minutes, the Lions began to assert control. A penalty deep in the Maidenhead half allowed a kick to the corner, and the Lions’ driving maul went to work – much like usual. However, in a slightly unfamiliar sight, it was captain Joe Emson who was the last man up from the pile of bodies with the opening try, hooker Chris Rolfe left briefly at a loss as to what to do with himself.
The restart went dead, gifting the Lions more territory, and soon the home side were camped back in the Maidenhead 22. A series of carries from Mark Bright and Byron Leach set the platform, before Cormac McCracken powered over near the posts for the Lions’ second, with Nick Hill converting.
From there, the floodgates began to open. A yellow card for a Maidenhead prop late in the first half gave the Lions numerical advantage, and they capitalised ruthlessly. First, Lachlan Lowick crossed out wide following neat hands through the backs, before Callum MacTaggart added another on the opposite wing just before half time to secure the bonus point and a 22–0 lead at the break.
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Second Half
Any hopes of a Maidenhead comeback were quickly extinguished. Straight from the restart, the ever-consistent Mark Bright found himself in space and stepped his way under the posts for the fifth try, converted by Nick Hill. Minutes later, Michael Baldock marked a superb personal performance with his first try for the club, finishing strongly to the left of the posts as Angus Clogg added the extras.
At 36–0, Maidenhead finally managed to register on the scoreboard, breaking through for a converted try on 59 minutes. But it was a brief interruption in what was otherwise a one-sided affair.
Even with Ross Currie shown a yellow card for repeated team infringements shortly after, the Lions refused to ease up. Fergus Chapman burst through from 15 metres for a well-taken try, before replacement Dylan Westoby capped off the performance — chasing down a loose ball and finishing under pressure near the posts. Clogg added both conversions to close out the scoring at 50–7.
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Standout Performances
It was a match full of strong performances across the park. Captain Joe Emson led by example and was deservedly named Man of the Match, setting the tone in defence and attack throughout. In the forwards, Mark Bright and Michael Baldock were relentless at the breakdown, while Chris Rolfe and Frank Scott anchored a dominant set-piece.
In the backs, Nick Hill and Aaron McLelland marshalled play superbly, with Cameron Wray and Fabian Thwaites proving solid in midfield. From the bench, Josh Thomas made a significant impact in the second half, bringing fresh energy and control at scrum time, while Westoby’s try was a just reward for his lively contribution.
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Tries: Joe Emson (20’), Cormac McCracken (28’), Lachlan Lowick (41’), Callum MacTaggart (44’), Mark Bright (45’), Michael Baldock (51’), Fergus Chapman (62’), Dylan Westoby (73’)
Conversions: Nick Hill (28’, 45’), Angus Clogg (51’, 62’, 73’)
Yellow Card: Ross Currie (63’)
Man of the Match: Joe Emson – a captain’s performance, tireless in defence, dominant in contact, and led from the front in a statement home win.
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Summary
This was a complete team performance from the Lions — physical, clinical, and increasingly confident. The balance of experience and new blood continues to blend well, and the side looks to be growing week by week in both cohesion and belief.
As the season progresses, performances like this will be key to pushing towards the top half of the table — and if the Lions can continue to show this blend of discipline and ambition, there’s every reason to believe more big wins are on the horizon.
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Saturday 1 November
Next up for the Club:
C Lions vs Belsize Park 4th XV (A)
– Venue: The Hub, Regent’s Park (NW1 4NU)
– KO: 14:00
