Scottish can bounce back from bitter blow (From Your Local Guardian)

Scottish can bounce back from bitter blow

2:30pm Friday 21st October 2011 in London Scottish By Stuart Amos

London Scottish backs coach James Brown is confident the team is on the right track despite a last-gasp 25-29 defeat at Plymouth.

Fly half Dan Mugford’s late penalty looked to have earned head coach Simon Amor’s men a much needed 25-22 win in Devon.

But Albion winger Steve Jones had other ideas as he touched down in the ninth minute of injury time to give his men the spoils.

Brown singled out his pack for measuring up admirably against an opposition containing Canadian forwards Tyler Hotson and Aaron Carpenter, whose last competitive game was against the All Blacks at the World Cup.

But the former Worcester Warriors fly half admitted defeat was hard to stomach.

“The manner of the defeat was a difficult pill to take after all the heart, passion and effort the boys put in,” he said.

“The way we have played means we are on the right track, but the tag of nearly men is not one we would want.

“We have to start converting these narrow defeats into victories.”

Scottish’s Mugford and Albion full back Love traded penalties to leave the score 15-9 to the hosts early in the second half.

An Anthony Andrews converted try gave Scottish the lead which they extended first through Mugford’s and then through a monster penalty from Oli Grove.

But Albion levelled with a penalty try before the late flurry of points from first Mugford and then Johns.

Scottish host Bedford Blues on Saturday, a game Brown says is a must win.

“Every game at this level is competitive and Bedford is an established team,” he added.

But we go out wanting to win every single game.”