The Exiles were unable to come out on top at home at the Athletic Ground against Nottingham. The final score 17-30.
Try scorers for the Exiles included scrum-half Rory Brand in the first half, hooker Billy Harding and captain Lewis Wynne in the second. Replacement fly-half Will Magie converted a try.
David Williams went over to score a double and was joined by Jack Spittle on the scoreboard. Shane O’Leary slotted all three conversions plus two penalties for the visitors.
Scottish won the toss and opted to start proceedings through the boot of fly-half Harry Sheppard. The home side played from left to right in the first half.
It was the visitors who got the first points on the board. A looping pass from scrum-half Murray McConnel went over the heads of several Scottish defenders and found the hands of Williams, who went over to score from 20 metres out. O’Leary converted; London Scottish 0-7 Nottingham.
With the first quarter of the match gone, Scottish were penalised for a side entry at a maul seven metres out from their own try line. Nottingham pointed to the posts and O’Leary landed the three points; London Scottish 0-10 Nottingham.
Nottingham went over to score their second try in the 30th minute of the game. Left winger Spittle cut through the Exiles’ defence from 25 metres out. O’Leary converted; London Scottish 0-17 Nottingham.
With six minutes left until half time, Scottish set up a rolling maul less than five metres out. Brand gathered the ball to sidestep two Nottingham defenders and score the home side’s first try. Sheppard missed the conversion; London Scottish 5-17 Nottingham at half time.
Six minutes into the second half Scottish were penalised for being offside five metre short from their own try line. The men in green pointed to the posts and O’Leary slotted the penalty. London Scottish 5-20 Nottingham.
O’Leary landed another five minutes later, Scottish were penalised for being offside again just short of their own 10 metre line in the middle of the field. London Scottish 5-23 Nottingham.
Scottish scored their second through captain Wynne off the back of another rolling maul set up from five metres out. Shepard missed the conversion; London Scottish 10-23 Nottingham.
Nottingham replied quickly with a try of their own. Williams ran in his second all the way back from the half-way line. O’ Leary converted; London Scottish 10-30 Nottingham.
Harding scored the Exiles’ final try with less than ten minutes to go; the rolling maul working well again for the home side. Harding peeled off the back to go over and score. Magie converted; London Scottish 17-30 Nottingham at the final whistle.
The Scots are now on the road until mid-March. They face Ampthill next on Saturday 15th February.
Post match interview with Matt Gordon: https://youtu.be/pWdxTFOk4OE
