Two fallen giants get a big-time reminder

14 April 2012

They have had some big games down Twickenham way in the last few Saturdays with England, Australia, South Africa and the All Blacks all strutting their stuff on the 'Old Cabbage Patch'.

But, for the locals of TW9, a top-ofthe-table clash in London Division One on Saturday is attracting just as much passion, anticipation and classic rugby fanaticism.

Richmond and London Scottish, who five years ago were thrown out of Premiership rugby because of financial difficulties and dumped into the county leagues as amateur clubs, are now bidding for a return to the national leagues after four consecutive seasons of promotion.

The two clubs, who have shared the Richmond Athletic Ground for 110 years, clash for the first time in four years with 3,000 people expected to turn up.

This will be an astonishing moment for a league which is hardly a major crowd-puller with fixtures involving unglamorous names like Old Colfeians, Bishops Stortford and Old Albanians.

But Scottish and Richmond have both come a long way in four seasons after being demoted to Herts/Middlesex One.

Scottish, who are hosting the fixture, are pulling out all the stops with a pipe band and a sold-out £500-per-table lunch to celebrate what is a reminder of the big time when the club had internationals of the calibre of former Lions captain Gavin Hastings.

On the club's website, fans have been told that the dress code is strict - "kilts, trews (trousers) with club shirts and lots of tartan".

Throw in a wingercumfull-back, who is the grandson of the former BBC rugby commentator Bill McLaren, and the club claim that this is the biggest league match outside of the Premiership this season.

They would probably argue with that in the rugby bars of Coventry, Bedford and Bristol. But some of the amateur players at Richmond and London Scottish are certainly going to be challenged in the frenzied atmosphere.

Gregor Lawson, who grew up listening to 'Grandad' McLaren's enthusiasm about rugby at family gatherings as well as on his television set, is likely to be one of the coolest heads on the pitch.

Lawson's father Alan played for Scotland as a scrum-half during the 1970s.

The 26-year-old winger has the experience of playing top Scottish rugby at Heriots FP in Edinburgh where matches not only attract thousands of spectators but are also shown on television. He said: "It's going to be a massive crowd and a big occasion. There is a different edge to the team.

"Everyone was down at training early this week and I think you will see some nervous young men at kick-off. But I think we have the coaching staff that will calm our nerves.

"The history behind the two clubs is huge. The rivalry dates back a very long time.

"As someone who has come down from Scotland, I don't know a lot of the teams we are up against but there's no doubt who Richmond are and the fact that we share the same ground makes it a mouthwatering prospect."

The two teams avoid each other by training on different nights at Kew Foot Road.

The changing rooms have a neutral cream colour rather than any club colours. In terms of winning the league, this match is a crucial moment of the season.

London Scottish top the table after eight wins out of 10. Richmond are two points behind in third but have a game in hand.

The passion on show will be in Lawson's genes. The marketing manager said he never felt under any pressure to play rugby from either his father or grandfather.

But he said: "We were always talking about rugby at family occasions. It was great to get Bill's insight for the game.

"He has such a passion for the game it was hardly surprising it rubbed off."

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Two fallen giants get a big-time reminder

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