Scots suffer second straight loss at home

25th January 2020

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Match Reports

London Scottish were unable to claim bragging rights against local rivals Ealing Trailfinders in a 26-42 loss at home at the Athletic Ground.

Craig Duncan ran in a late consolation try for the Exiles and joined Josh Barton, Bobby Beattie and Mark Bright on the scoreboard. Harry Sheppard converted the first two tries and Will Magie the last.

Ealing’s try scorers included Jordan Reid, Jordan Els, Tommy Bell, Sam Dickinson and Reon Joseph. Craig Willis landed four conversions and three penalties.

Under the Friday night lights the visitors kicked off proceedings. The Scots played from right to left in the first half.

The spectators only had to wait five minutes until the first points were scored by the Green and Whites, London Scottish having been penalised for not rolling away at a ruck within their own 22. Ealing pointed to the post and Willis landed the three points: London Scottish 0-3 Ealing Trailfinders.

Half-way through the first half Ealing stretched the score to six points after the Exiles were penalised for wheeling a scrum around 22 metres out. Willis with the kick at the posts; London Scottish 0-6 Ealing Trailfinders.

However, it was the home side that scored the first try in the 25th minute. Replacement Mark Bright, who was on for Matt Eliet who had departed for a HIA assessment, broke past the visitors’ 10 metre line before offloading to Dan Barnes, who was tap tackled just short of the 22 metre line, but was able to offload to captain Lewis Wynne who carried into the 22.

The ball then went out left through the forwards and found Kyle Whyte, the tight-head prop was able to offload to Barton five metres out and the scrum half went over to score an entertaining try. Sheppard converted to give the Exiles the lead; London Scottish 7-6 Ealing Trailfinders.

Willis landed another three after the Exiles gave away another penalty at scrum time in their own half; London Scottish 7-9 Ealing Trailfinders.

The Scots’ second try came 16 minutes before half time when Sheppard made a chip over Ealing’s defence which landed in space 25 metres out and bounced kindly into the hands of Beattie, who showed some fancy footwork to swerve a couple of defenders to score under the posts. Sheppard converted to stretch the score to London Scottish 14-9 Ealing Trailfinders.

Just before half time Ealing responded with a try of their own through Reid. The conversion from Willis handed the Green and Whites the lead at half time: London Scottish 14-16 Ealing Trailfinders.

It was Ealing who came out on top in the second half and scored their second try five minutes in, full back Bell going over from 25 meters out. Willis converted; London Scottish 14-23 Ealing Trailfinders.

Three minutes later Els went over to score, the North Londoners going through the phases. Willis’ conversion stretched the score to London Scottish 14-30 Ealing Trailfinder.

Dickinson went over in the corner to score the visitors’ fourth, but Willis missed the conversion; London Scottish 14-35 Ealing Trailfinders.

The Scots’ penultimate try came through a great offload from Beattie 25 metres out to Bright, who skipped pass a couple of Ealing defenders to score in the right corner. The conversion was pushed wide by replacement Magie; London Scottish 19-35 Ealing Trailfinders.

Four minutes before the full-time whistle Ealing found themselves in the home side’s 22 and the ball went out to inside centre Joseph to score. Willis converted to bring the score to London Scottish 19-42 Ealing Trailfinders.

In the dying moments of the game the Scots found themselves camped in their local rivals’ 22. The ball went from right to left where the Exiles found space out wide, which Duncan ran into and scored. Magie landed the conversion to bring the score to London Scottish 26-42 at the final whistle.

The Scots picked up the try bonus point which sees them currently remain in seventh spot in the Greene King IPA Championship table.

We caught up with Kyle Whyte post match, see video below.