Nottingham went one better than the previous week as, after kicking off the new Champ Rugby season with a 26-8 win over Doncaster Knights, they defeated London Scottish 26-7 in the capital.
The scoreline wasn’t the only similarity as they once again got off to a flying start. Whereas it took all of 72 seconds to get on the scoresheet against Doncaster, this time it was less than half a minute as the Archers managed to regather their own kick-off and a chip over the defensive line from fly half Gwyn Parks was collected by David Williams who ran it in. Parks added the extras.
Scottish had a chance to reply five minutes later when they were awarded a penalty 20 metres out but the kick drifted wide. And their plight didn’t get any easier after a quarter of an hour when the home captain, Bailey Ransom, was sent to the sin bin for an offence near his own goal line.
Before the game, Nottingham Head Coach Craig Hammond spoke about what he wanted from his team: “We need to make sure we get our house in order and we’re physical with and without the ball. And if we get our set-piece right then that puts us in a good place.” That good place was over the try line as, from the resultant lineout, hooker Jack Dickinson powered in at the back of the maul. Parks missed the conversion attempt.
It wasn’t long before the visitors further extended their lead when Harry Graham’s dancing feet created a quick break and he raced in under the posts, with Parks putting Nottingham 19 to the good.
Harry Sheppard was able to reduce the arrears for the hosts in the closing stages of the first half as he crashed over the line following a Scottish maul five metres out. Fraser Honey converted.
The try bonus point for Nottingham was secured seven minutes into the second period as fast hands at the lineout ultimately released scrum half Will Yarnell to record his second try for the club.
The hosts were able to build some pressure as the half wore on, being held up over the line at one point, but the Archers’ resolute defence saw out the victory.
