Match Report – London Scottish Lions B’s vs HAC 2nd XV
Middlesex Merit Premier – Round 7
Venue: King’s House Sports Ground
Saturday 22 November, KO 13:00
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Lions B’s deliver a statement performance in dominant home display
London Scottish Lions B’s produced one of their most complete performances of the season on Saturday afternoon, sweeping aside HAC 2nd XV by a commanding 74–19 margin in the opening fixture of the Club’s home double header at King’s House. In wet, slippery conditions that made handling difficult and contributed to 30+ scrums, a dominant B’s pack set the platform for the electric backline and an emphatic 12-try victory.
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First Half: Relentless pressure and clinical finishing
From the opening whistle both teams came flying out of the blocks, trading heavy carries and defensive punches that reflected the quality and physicality of both squads. But as soon as the early exchanges settled, the B’s began to assert themselves. The first breakthrough came after eight minutes when full-back Ollie Boyes finished a sharp attack down the right wing, and only three minutes later centre Thomas Innes doubled the lead, taking advantage of quick ball after a series of tight forward carries had sucked in the HAC defence.
Despite the wet ball, the B’s played with clarity and purpose, their physical defence and precision in attack reflecting why they’ve climbed to the top end of the table this season. A well-executed catch-and-drive allowed hooker Flynt Preston to claim his first try of a memorable afternoon on 20 minutes, before a period of sustained dominance saw the Lions stretch away. A slick handling move put winger Cameron McMillan over in the corner for the bonus-point try in the 27th minute, and minutes later Cameron Symes added another, benefitting from the relentless pressure created by the forwards around the pitch.
By the half-time whistle the Lions had built a 31–0 lead — an advantage fully earned through uncompromising defence, unrelenting set-piece control, and a disciplined approach in heavy weather.
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Second Half: Free-flowing attack and standout individual moments
The B’s entered the second half with two clear objectives: to keep HAC scoreless and to double their own points tally. They wasted little time continuing where they left off. Straight from an early scrum on the ten-metre line, Innes stepped his man and burst away for a brilliant solo try, extending the lead to 36–0. Soon after, a beautifully constructed move saw the Lions score one of the tries of the day: Angus Clogg attacked the line, fed Symes, who offloaded to Boyes bursting down the wing. Boyes then nudged a delicate infield kick that bounced perfectly for wing Sebastian Kennett to scoop up and finish under no pressure. It was rugby of real quality, especially given the conditions.
HAC eventually found their way onto the scoreboard with two tries in quick succession, showing commendable resilience despite the mounting deficit. But each time the visitors threatened a foothold, the Lions struck back with interest. The right wing became a constant source of damage, with forward pods punching through space and releasing the backline to devastating effect. Liam Kerr powered over after a dominant scrum, before Preston completed his hat-trick with two further tries — one a 25-metre burst down the right touchline after taking an offload from Kerr, the other a trademark close-range finish followed by a swan dive under the posts.
With the scoreline secure, the Lions introduced fresh legs from the bench while leaving the ever-reliable veteran Greene to hold firm in the front row for the full 80 minutes. Replacement centre Fraser Waddell soon made his impact felt, handing off his opposite number to score from short range after yet another strong scrum platform.
The biggest cheer of the afternoon, however, arrived in the 79th minute. Only recently returned from injury and surgery, second-row Angus Troop received a perfectly timed pass from Clogg just outside the Lions’ 22. Hitting the line at pace, Troop carved through the midfield, sprinted more than 60 metres, and fended off the covering full-back to dive over in the right-hand corner — a triumphant moment that capped a long road back to match fitness.
HAC would have the final say, scoring from a well-executed cross-field kick in the final play, but it did little to overshadow the comprehensive nature of the Lions’ performance.
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A roaring squad statement
The final whistle brought confirmation of a 74–19 victory — and with it, the Lions B’s sixth maximum-point win of the season. They now sit top of the Middlesex Merit Premier, level with Rosslyn Park 4th XV on league points but boasting a remarkable +310 points difference, having scored an extraordinary 355 points in just six matches while conceding only 45.
This was a win built on excellence across the squad: Preston’s hat-trick, Innes’ incisive running, the control shown by Currie and Clogg, the power of Troop and Dandie, and the relentless accuracy of the backline all contributed to the result. But it was the performance of tight-head prop David Greene — anchoring a dominant scrum, tidying breakdowns, and powering through all 80 minutes — who earned Man of the Match honours, though in reality it could have easily been given to half the squad.
The B’s continue to look every inch a side with championship ambitions, blending forward power, tactical intelligence, and attacking flair into a formidable matchday package.
Up the Lions B’s!
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Tries: Ollie Boyes (8’), Thomas Innes x2 (11’, 42’), Flynt Preston x3 (20’, 59’, 72’), Cameron McMillan (27’), Cameron Symes (32’), Liam Kerr (47’), Sebastian Kennett (54’), Fraser Waddell (70’), Angus Troop (79’)
Conversions: Angus Clogg x7 (8’, 20’, 32’, 42’, 54’, 70’, 72’)
Man of the Match: David Greene – a dominant 80-minute performance in the tight and loose
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Saturday 29 November
Next up for the Lions, all 3x team are in action:
Lions vs Hammersmith & Fulham (A)
– Venue: Hammersmith & Fulham RFC, Hurlingham Park (SW6 3RH)
– KO: 14:00
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Lions B’s vs Belsize Park 3rd XV (A)
– Venue: The Hub, Regent’s Park (NW1 4NU)
– KO: 14:00 (TBC)
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C Lions vs Hendon (A)
– Venue: Hendon RFC (NW4 1RL)
– KO: 14:00 (TBC)
