Mikalcius makes the difference for Scottish

FORMER Quins wing Jonas Mikalcius scored twice as Scottish backed up last week’s win over Cornish Pirates with another impressive display.

Trailing 7-0 after Ben Foley’s early try for Nottingham, Mikalcius crossed twice before halftime to set Scottish on course for victory.

Coach Graham Steadman said: “First half was very pleasing, but in the second 40 we didn’t capitalise on one or two opportunities. We’ve got to be a bit smarter and consolidate the score board to put teams away, and be relentless.”

Nottingham began in the ascendancy and Alex Dolly went close. Ferocious defence from both sides epitomised the early exchanges was on top from both sides

Scottish started to move the ball more and find some rhythm. Lewis Wynne crashed through the midfield into Nottingham’s 22 but the offload to flanker Jack Ingall was around his ankles and Foley capitalised. He fly-hacked the ball all the way back down the pitch to score a superb solo try. Dolly converted to make it 0-7.

Massive carries from Luke Frost and Matt Gordon put Scottish back in Nottingham’s 22 and neat hands put Luke Hibberd in at the corner for 7-5.

Scottish began to take control and 10 minutes later Mikalcius grabbed his first, smashing over Foley at the corner.

Nottingham’s defence were up incredibly quickly as they looked to snuff out any attack but the errors were creeping in to their game.

Under pressure at their own line-out, they knocked on and Scottish took possession and sent it wide for Mikalcius to ghost in for his second and a 15-7 halftime lead with Dan Barnes missing all theee conversions..

The second half began as the first ended, with Nottingham making errors and Scottish capitalising.

Following quick ball from a scrum following a Nottingham knock-on, neat handling saw the ball find Ben Toolis out wide who had an easy run in to score on his debut. Barnes converted this time to give Scots a 22-7 lead.

Nottingham spent the next 10 mins camped in the Scots half, but unable to find that clinical last pass to open up the defence until near the hour mark when George Cox fired the ball to Luke Peters who dived over. With Dolly adding the conversion Scots led 22-14 with 20 left to play.

Nottingham added a late penalty from in front but just as it started, defences finished on top and the last 15 minutes were a stalemate.

“London Scottish did well in the back end of the first half,” said Nottingham coach Neil Fowkes.

“They took their chances well and got the tries they deserved.”