All Black Franks is difference for Irish
LONDON Irish boss Nick Kennedy insists his side need to improve following yesterday’s bonus-point derby victory.
Scottish, who have given a good accounts of themselves in recent weeks, were reduced to 14 when Lydon was yellow-carded for infringing at the ruck.
From the subsequent penalty, a series of carries ensued with the impressive Franks proving his worth to the team by producing a carbon-copy of his first score. Tonks slotted home the conversion to extend Irish’s lead to 19-6 going into the break.
Scottish came out for the second half with renewed vigour, and on 49 minutes they closed the gap to 19-13, Auguy Slowik pouncing on a neat chip over the top to score under the posts.
Ifereimi Boladau, Scottish’s giant No.8, was the catalyst for the score with his 40-metre burst through the heart of the hosts’ defences to get his side within inches of the line. Lydon’s simple conversion cut the gap to 19-13 with half-an-hour still to play. Yorkshire Carnegie game, but overall I’m happy.
“I thought Ben Franks was outstanding in the front row, and he brought high work-rate and intensity to the pack.”
Irish began in emphatic fashion, crossing in the third minute throughFranks. Gathering clean ball at the lineout 5m from the visitors’ line, the ball was spun infield to the double World Cup-winning All Black, who used his brute strength to touchdown from close-range.
Greig Tonks missed the extras and Scottish took the lead midway through the first period with two Pete Lydon penalties giving Irish much to ponder. However, Irish were soon back in the ascendancy on 24 minutes when former England hooker David Paice burrowed over from the back of a dominant rolling maul. Tonks’ conversion made it 12-6.
With half-time looming,
Kennedy, 34, who was a mainstay of the Exiles’ pack for more than 10 years, watched on as Ben Franks (2), David Paice and Johnny Williams dotted down to book a place in the end of season play-offs.
Stretching their winning sequence to 15 in the league, Irish now turn their attention to next week’s trip to fellow promotion hopefuls Yorkshire Carnegie.
“It was a closely fought game and London Scottish pushed us all the way,” said Kennedy. “Pete Richards is an excellent coach and he had his side well-drilled.
“There are certainly areas of our game which we can work on during the week in the build up to the
Threatening Irish’s unbeaten league run, Scottish went close to crossing the line three minutes later only for Slowik to knock-on with the try-line beckoning.
Pete Richards’ men were made to rue this missed opportunity as Johnny Williams finished off a slick backline move to dot down in the corner on 55 minutes. Purposeful carries from fly-half James Marshall and winger Ben Ransom provided the space for Williams to score.
Trailing 26-13, Scottish set-up a tense finale as Dave Cherry bulldozed his way
over from a driving lineout for a converted try. And with Luke Narraway yellow-carded for an altercation at the breakdown five minutes from time, there was real hope in Scottish’s ranks that an upset might just be on the cards.
However, Irish killed the game thanks to a Tonks penalty in the last minute to ensure the league leaders kept their unbeaten run intact.
Impressed with his side’s valiant effort, Scottish head coach Richards said: “With 75 minutes on the clock and only six points behind, I thought we were in a great position to win the game.
“It was an outstanding effort from the boys as we are a depleted squad playing against a very healthy London Irish team. In terms of character, I thought it was one of our best showings of the season.”