Expectations were high as London Scottish arrived at the RAG off the back of two successive victories in the Championship. Wins over Cambridge and Hartpury had lifted them to 9th in the league and just one place behind today’s opponents Nottingham.
Both sides are some of the most exciting in the league, willing to run from anywhere and prioritise entertainment over pragmatism. On a dry, warm April’s day what followed was a game for the neutral.
London Scottish kicked the day off with some excellent offloading amongst the forwards in order the cross the whitewash through Ingall before Nottingham hit back with a well worked try of their own.
Then came one of the plays of the day with Jack Musk and Tom Marshall running a beautiful line out move around the front to scythe through the defence and score. Scottish would back this up with a further score from Musk as he barrelled over from the back of a maul.
Nottingham would respond with a penalty of their own but shortly after Marijn Huis scored his first try for the Club after more excellent offloading from the forward pack. Nottingham would once again respond with a lovely score down the left hand side as the two sides went into the half time sheds at 24-15 to the hosts.
After the break, the away side started the brighter and got their maul going well to work the score and in the process earnt the yellow card of Noah Ferdinand for an offside infringement.
However, Scottish would weather the score well and down the fourteen men would score the try of the day and perhaps the season. Dan Nutton on the occasion of his 50th cap intercepted deep in his 22 on the dive before offloading to Robbie McCallum. He streaked clear before offloading back inside to Nutton who then in turn from Harry Sheppard. He was pulled down just short of the line before co-captain Nutton bounced to his feet to collect another excellent offload and score the try.
Jack Musk would quickly complete his hattrick after a beautiful finish from the back of a maul down the short side. Matt Wilkinson would quickly back his team mate up with a try of his own after bouncing over the top of his opposite number on the line.
This all but sealed the game but Nottingham would continue to play from deep. Eventually it was the forwards who secured the consolation and bonus point try at the death but Scottish would run out 45-27 winners and cut the gap to Nottingham in the table.
