London Scottish beat Cornish Pirates 24-20 in the opening fixture of the 2019/20 season at home.
On a fine, late summer afternoon at the Richmond Athletic Ground, the Exiles kick started their 2019/20 campaign with a win 24-20 over Cornish Pirates.
Proceedings got underway after a lone bagpiper played “Scotland the Brave” in memory of London Scottish mini Arturo Pagni, who sadly passed away during the summer.
Cornish Pirates were the first to get points on the scoreboard in the fifteenth minute, when a gap opened up on the left wing for Alex O’Meara to go over and score. Will Cargil added the extras, London Scottish 0-7 Pirates.
Soon after Scottish joined Pirates on the scoreboard when some quick hands from fly half Dan Barnes in midfield ended with Mark Bright running through a big gap down the left wing and offloading to captain Lewis Wynne running in to score his first try in a Scottish shirt. Barnes added the extras, London Scottish 7-7 Pirates.
Pirates looked to have scored their second before half time, but the ball was deemed to have gone forward by referee Tom Foley,. The score going into the break was London Scottish 7-7 Cornish Pirates.
The home side’s defence was put to the test at the start of the second half when Pirates were camped on their try line. The defence held strong though and Pirates only came away with a penalty, kicked by Cargil, to bring the score, to London Scottish 7-10 Cornish Pirates.
The Scots second try came off the back of scrum under the Pirates’, post after Elliott Creed was denied a try; the ball being held up. The forwards went through the phases off the back of the scrum and eventually several bodies went over and the try scorer was named as Jack Ingall. Barnes added the extras, London Scottish 14-10 Cornish Pirates.
Pirates went over to score their second try with ten minutes left on the clock, after being camped on the home side’s try line when a gap opened up for AJ Cant to go over in the right corner. The conversion was missed by Cargil, London Scottish 14-15 Cornish Pirates.
Luke Hibberd was the orchestrator of the final try for Scottish after making a break down the middle of the field and side stepping several tacklers, offloading the ball to scrum half Josh Barton who ran in under the posts with ten minutes left on the clock. The conversion was successful by Barnes, London Scottish 21-15 Cornish Pirates.
Not long after O’Meara went over to score his second of the afternoon for Pirates in much the same fashion as he scored his first. Cant failed to add the extras, London Scottish 21-20 Cornish Pirates.
Barnes showed great physicality in the final stages of the game to bring Scottish all the way into Pirates 22. Ill discipline cost Cornish Pirates with a penalty awarded to Scottish which Barnes slotted through the two up rights. The final score at the full-time whistle was London Scottish 24-20 Cornish Pirates.
London Scottish next face Nottingham at Richmond Athletic Ground next Saturday, kick off time 15:00.
Man of the match: Matas Jurevicius
