May 17, 2025
Summer rugby continued with the third of five matches scheduled for May as London Scottish visited Kingsey Road.
After these diaries covered Chinnor’s Friday Night Lights 41-22 triumph over Nottingham, they went to Ealing and suffered their heaviest loss of the season, falling 5-41 to the runaway league leaders. The scoreline was a little harsh on Chinnor, who enjoyed several good spells during the game, but lacked the clinical edge shown by Ealing in taking chances, especially when Ealing were down to 13 players. Chinnor were also on the wrong end of some baffling decisions from Sir, and two of Ealing’s tries would surely have been overturned had TMO technology been in operation.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2025/05/chinnor-41-22-nottingham-att-1600-est.html
These diaries reported on the meeting between these two sides during the Christmas holidays, when London Scottish were victorious 26-15 at the Richmond Athletic Ground. The Scottish side that day included nine Harlequins players in their starting XV, with another three on the bench. In comparison, Chinnor had one Harlequin and one Ealing Trailfinder in their squad.
https://fatbearssportingdiaries.blogspot.com/2024/12/london-scottish-26-15-chinnor-att-1000.html
London Scottish Update
London Scottish came in to today’s fixture in 9th place, one position above Chinnor, with a 7-0-12 record, and they were 3-0-6 away from home. However, a bonus point victory for Chinnor and denying any points for Scottish would take Chinnor above the Exiles in the table on points difference. A win for Scottish though would almost certainly guarantee them finishing no lower than 9th.
Following their win over Chinnor in late December, Scottish followed up with victories at Cambridge ( 48-26 ) and more impressively, a 39-14 home success over high flying Hartpury. However, The Exiles then went on a run of five losses in six games, with the only success being a 33-28 win at Nottingham.
Last time out though, London Scottish got back to winning ways with a convincing 60-33 victory over back-markers Cambridge.
London Scottish had a dismal Premiership Cup campaign, losing all 6 matches, although by and large the margins of defeats against Saracens, Harlequins and Ealing were respectable, apart from the 27-99 thumping at Saracens.
Average home league attendances for London Scottish were 914, up from 732 from last season, but only Hartpury University had a lower average in the division. Chinnor remained the third best supported side in the division with an average of 1,745.
London Scottish Squad
The highest points scorers for London Scottish this season were fly-halves Tom Wilstead and Alexander Lloyd-Seed, with 55 and 52 points respectively. Hooker Austin Wallis had scored 7 tries, as had Harlequins Academy lock/back-row forward Zach Carr. Harlequins wing Roma Zheng had touched down 6 times for the Exiles.
The London Scottish XV that started last week against Cambridge contained just the 5 Harlequins. In addition to Carr and Zheng were fly-half/full-back Josh Bellamy, prop Ethan Clarke and flanker Will Trenholm. However, prop Caleb Ashworth and centre Franklin McMillan were also amongst the substitutes. Clarke had been a substitute on 7 occasions for Chinnor at the start of the season.
Of the Quins that played against Chinnor in December, full back Cameron Anderson and centre Ben Waghorn had since gone on to made a total of nine and eleven appearances respectively for Harlequins this season. Lock Johnny Green had subsequently made five appearances for Chinnor, but was missing today as he was starting for Harlequins against Exeter Chiefs !
This morning Harlequins announced that Trenholm would be joining Premiership side Gloucester next season, whilst Zheng and Ashworth were amongst the players that had been released.
Matchday Information
According to AA route planner, the journey from Richmond to Thame is 50 miles and should normally take around an hour.
The weather at the 15.00 kick-off was sunny and the temperature was 19 degrees. The infamous Chinnor breeze was very gentle.
Adult tickets purchased online were £17 but £14 for members. For over £65s and students it was £14 and £3 for Under 16s. Prices at the gate were £19 for adults and £16 for members. Under 10s were allowed in for free.
With the member’s 10% discount, a pint of XT3 was £5.18 and a bottle of Chardonnay was £23. A portion of chips from the mobile Fish and Chips van was £4.
An online programme had been produced in advance of today’s game.
London Scottish made four changes to the XV that started against Cambridge, with Harry Sheppard, Will Simonds and McMillian coming into the backs, whilst Tom Marshall swapped with Ioan Rhys-Davies at Number 8. The inclusion of McMillian took the number of Quins starters to 6, whilst Ashworth was again on the bench.
Chinnor made five changes to the side that lost at Ealing, with four changes in the pack. Prop Keston Lines, who Coventry announced this week would be joining them for next season, hooker Alun Walker, lock George Shaw and flanker George Stokes all returned to the starting line-up, whilst Tom Watson came in at centre. On loan Northampton lock Emeka Atuanya started for the second week running, and one intriguing substitute was Plymouth Albion Georgian prop Ramaz Rukhadze, who was presumably available for a game with Albion’s season in National League One having finished. Harlequin on loan fly-half Connor Slevin was also amongst the substitutes.
London Scottish were in a change kit of red shorts with blue shorts and red socks, whilst Chinnor were in their usual black and white hoops
Match Report
London Scottish kicked off playing towards the ring road end, and Chinnor scrum-half Luke Carter made a clearing kick to half-way.
Scottish secured lineout ball by throwing to the front of the lineout and fly-half Sheppard broke through Morgan Passman’s attempted tackle to reach Chinnor’s 22. The home defence won a turnover, but the scrum was awarded to the visitors.
Scottish ran the ball from the scrum but knocked on, and after Chinnor gathered, wing Grant Hughes kicked deep into the Scottish half. Full-back Bellamy gathered and ran across the field, but when The Exiles spread the ball amongst their backs, the final pass went straight into touch.
Chinnor won their lineout ball and kicked to Zheng, who launched a counterattack and Lloyd-Seed broke into the Chinnor 22, but his overhead pass in the tackle saw a knock on with the try-line beckoning. It was a big let-off for the home side.
The Chinnor scrum was under pressure, but Carter managed to kick the ball clear. McMillan managed to keep the ball in play, and launched another attack, but after a crunching tackle on Zheng, Scottish opted to kick into the Chinnor half. However, Carter kicked out on the full after making the catch.
London Scottish won their lineout and attacked, winning a penalty, which they kicked to the corner for a 5-metre lineout. However, their throw was too long and hit the referee, and Chinnor gathered the loose ball. Carter’s clearing kick was kept in play by Zheng, but again a Scottish backs’ move ended with a pass into touch.
The Exiles stole the Chinnor lineout with a tap from Carr and Zheng ran 50 metres into the Chinnor 22. A smart inside pass gave scrum-half Jonny Law a clear run to cross under the posts. Lloyd-Seed added the extras to take the score to 0-7 after 10 minutes.
The Chinnor restart was kicked back to Carter, who made a break through the heart of the Scottish defence. With two defenders to beat, Carter opted to kick ahead and although Bellamy should have gathered, the full-back fumbled, knocked the ball behind the try-line, and Carter won the foot-race to dive on the ball to score. Chinnor fly-half Nathan Chamberlain’s attempted conversion slid narrowly wide of the uprights, so the score was now 5-7 with 12 minutes on the clock.
Carter returned the Scottish restart into the Exiles half, where Bellamy was flattened by Hughes and Chinnor won a penalty, which was kicked into the Scottish 22. Atunanya won the line-out for the home side but after several attacks, Scottish were awarded the put-in at the scrum just inside their 22. The Exile’s scrum was steady, and Bellamy was able to clear to touch mid-way inside the Scottish half.
After Chinnor secured their lineout ball, Carter made a snipping run but after being tackled, play was scrappy and both sides knocked-on. Chinnor were awarded the scrum a few metres outside the Scottish 22.
After a reset, the referee gave a free-kick to Chinnor, which captain Willie Ryan took quickly and headed into the Scottish 22, and at the subsequent ruck Chinnor were awarded a penalty, which was kicked to 10 metres from the Scottish line. Shaw won the lineout for the home side and after several drives, Atunanya knocked on when going for the tryline. From their scrum 5 metres from their line, Bellamy was able to clear to touch for Scottish.
Shaw again won the Chinnor lineout and good defence from the visitors prevented Chinnor from making a breakthrough, and eventually full-back Nick Smith knocked on in the tackle. At the scrum, Chinnor were awarded a penalty as Scottish collapsed the scrum, and they were back in the Exiles 22.
Although Atunanya won the line-out, Carter dropped the tap and the knock-on gave Scottish the put-in at the scrum. Marshall picked up at the base of the scrum, and was tagged by Carter, but Simonds made an impressive break into the Chinnor half. The home side won turnover ball, and Hughes and Smith both made yards to take play back into the Scottish half, but Smith spilt the ball in the tackle. The Scottish scrum was again under pressure, and Sheppard kicked out on the full.
From the Chinnor line out centre Watson made a break through the centre of the Scottish defence, and the offload to Ryan saw the Chinnor captain stopped just short of the tryline. Chinnor reworked possession, and prop Lines was able to barge over close to the posts. Chamberlain’s conversion was good, taking the score to 12-7 with 35 minutes played.
Carter’s clearing kick from the restart went straight into touch, and after Trenholm won lineout ball for Scottish, Sheppard’s grubber kick behind the Chinnor backline was superbly kept in play by McMillan, whose inside flicked pass enabled Zheng to canter over the tryline, and get close to the posts. Lloyd-Seed had an easy kick, making the score 12-14 after 39 minutes.
Play after the restart was scrappy until a Scottish kick bounced into the Chinnor 22, forcing Smith to kick into touch. Scottish were awarded a penalty at the lineout, which was kicked to the corner. The lineout was won, and although several drives were kept out by the overworked home defence, eventually Trenholm was able to force his way over the line. Lloyd-Seed was again successful from the tee, and the last kick of the half made the half-time score 12-21.
Scottish allowed the restart to the second-half to bounce inside their 22, but they were able to gather possession and Law cleared to touch. Shortly after Simonds made another good break and Marshall was tackled just short of the tryline. When Scottish attempted to pass to their unmarked winger, Smith made a great interception, diving to complete the catch to prevent a knock-on ( and a probable yellow card ! ), from which Chinnor were able to clear to touch.
Scottish continued to attack, and Smith again did well to field a kick deep into the Chinnor 22, and a clever flicked pass as several Scottish players were able to pounce on him close to the touchline found Carter, who kicked long. However, several seconds after Carter had kicked, Matt Wilkinson deliberately crashed into the Chinnor scrum-half. Whilst it was understandable the referee missed this act of foul play, it was right in front of the touch judge, who bottled the decision to bring this to the referee’s attention.
Play continued, but after some more scrappy play, Scottish won a penalty, which took them back inside the Chinnor 22. Scottish attacked again, and Law sent a grubber kick to touch 5 metres from the Chinnor line. Hooker Alun Walker took a quick throw to Ryan who set off on a rampaging run, and Chinnor were able to kick into the Scottish half, from which the visitors kicked straight into touch to give Chinnor the lineout close to the Scottish 10 metre line.
Chinnor won their lineout and Chamberlain sent a superb 50:20 kick bouncing into the Scottish 22. However, the lineout tap from Shaw was poor and a Scottish forward hoofed the ball into the Chinnor 22. Walker was the first get back and Carter was able to kick back to Zheng. The Scottish wing set off on another run, and the Exiles kicked into the Chinnor 22, where Carter did well to prevent the touch, and was able to kick into touch further downfield. Bailey Ransom won the lineout for Scottish, and although the ball was dropped in midfield, it was judged not to have been a knock-on. Both sides had possession before a scrum was awarded to Chinnor, from which they were given a free-kick.
Another super kick from Chamberlain bounced into touch inside the Scottish 22 for another 50:20 to give Chinnor the lineout.
Scottish defended well, and after Zheng field a high kick, Scottish spread wide but were unable to make any yards. Law was forced to kick high, and after the ball bounced back on the Scottish side, Law launched the ball into the skies again, and substitute James Bourton drop the catch for a knock-on and a scrum to Scottish.
Shortly after, Chinnor kicked away possession to Bellamy, whose run was thwarted by a high tackle, and Scottish were able to kick the penalty to mid-way inside the Chinnor half. Shaw stole the lineout but his tap-back put Carter under intense pressure and the scrum-half was tackled close to the Chinnor line. Scottish were awarded a 5-metre scrum.
Scottish had several drives for the try-line but the Chinnor defence was good, and finally Law knocked on to give Chinnor a scrum 10 metres from their line. This time it was the Chinnor scrum under pressure, but Carter managed to find Slevin and received a return pass, and almost made a breakthrough, only to be brought down by a desperate tap-tackle. Chinnor were able to retain possession and wing Kieran Goss kicked into the Scottish 22. Zheng was covering for Scottish and ran back at Chinnor before opting to kick. Chinnor regained possession but were unable to get past the Scottish defence.
With 11 minutes remaining on the clock, Bellamy kicked into the Chinnor 22 where Hughes was waiting. The Chinnor wing kicked into the wide-open space inside the Scottish 22, and although Bellamy was covering in defence, Chinnor recovered the ball and thought they had scored. However, a 5-metre lineout was awarded to Chinnor.
The home pack pummelled the Scottish try-line but the defence was good. With a penalty advantage accruing, Chamberlain looked up and sent a cross-field kick to Goss, who had two defenders to beat, but scorched through the gap between them to cross the whitewash and run under the posts. Chamberlain’s easy conversion took the score to 19-21 with 74 minutes played.
A Scottish lineout appeared to be not straight, but strangely play restarted with a Chinnor lineout, which Chinnor won, only to knock-on in the tackle in midfield. Scottish spread the ball from the scrum and won a penalty at a ruck, which was kicked to Chinnor’s 22. Carr won the lineout for Scottish, who then sensibly aimed to just keep possession, with Chinnor eventually infringing at a ruck in their desperation to win the ball.
Interestingly, rather than go for the corner and try and secure a four try bonus point, they opted for the points, which Bellamy successfully added. It was now 19-24 with 80 minutes on the clock.
The game continued, and Scottish continued to deny Chinnor possession. Eventually, Scottish kicked the ball off for what looked like the end of the match. However, after two minutes of confusion, the game continued, but only for the referee to give Scottish a kick, which they kick-off, and this time it was the end of the game. A bizarre ending, with most of the crowd having no idea what was going on !
Frankly, the referee seemed to lose control in the second half, with several bouts of handbags between the two sides that the ref was unable to stamp out. A couple of members of the Scottish bench were frequently coming onto the pitch in the closing stages, which the 4th official seemed to be powerless to prevent.
However, on the balance of play, the final score was a fair result. The game management from Scottish in the closing stages was excellent, and Zheng and Lloyd-Seed were probably the best players on the park. Despite being released by Harlequins, I would expect Zheng would be receiving several offers from sides in the Championship.
Fatbear has been puzzled as to why Ampthill and London Scottish have at times packed their sides with young players from Saracens and Harlequins, as when they have fielded sides with a majority of their own players, they have looked just as good and the results don’t seem to have suffered !
Waking up in Australia - I love reading your reports - feels like I’m at the game! Thanks!
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