Currie 34 - 13 London Scottish: Currie lay down marker for season with easy win over exiles

A COMFORTABLE win over London Scottish in last night's friendly at Malleny Park will serve as a warning to Currie's domestic rivals that Ally Donaldson's men are ready to resume normal service.

While tagged a friendly, this was a full-blooded affair and, even though London Scottish are still several weeks away from their league start, Currie deservedly broke the deadlock after six minutes when a hack ahead carried play to within two metres of the visitors' line., and Richard Snedden picked up before plunging over for the try.

Parity was restored five minutes later when Scottish winger David Howells darted onto a kick ahead and touched down in the left hand corner. The visitors then enjoyed their best spell of the game and Currie were fortunate to survive a 20-minute spell confined largely to their own half without conceding further points.

Scottish, who will be back in action against Ayr at Millbrae today, eventually boosted their points tally with a penalty by Craig Ratford but Currie turned round with a 10-8 lead after a looping pass by Andy Binikos sent young winger Alan Whittingham clear. The hosts extended their advantage five minutes after the restart when Jamie Thompson applied the final touch to a powerful drive from a close range lineout and Matt Scott added the conversion.

The win was secured when James Johnstone blazed over from 60 metres and Whittingham bagged his second try. Chris Kinloch added the gloss with try number six before Ian McInroy sprinted over for a late consolation score.

Scorers: Currie: Tries - Snedden, Whittingham (2), Thompson, Johnstone, Kinloch. Cons - M Scott (2). London Scottish: Tries - Howells, McInroy. Pen - Ratford.

Currie: T Brown, C Kinloch, J Johnstone, A MacMahon, A Whittingham, A Binikos, R Snedden, A Hamilton, N Scobie, A Reekie, R Wilson, A Adam, J Thompson, M Entwhistle, R Weston. Subs used: J Cox, F Scott, G Temple, A Johnston, F Strachan, M Scott, I Downie.

London Scottish: F Neale, R Poitrowski, I McInroy, R Damant, D Howells, C Ratford, C Grant, M Johnson, T Stanfield, C McGrath, A Karonias, P Elder, B Lonnergen, T Yellowlees, W Lipp. Subs used: A Kent, J Graham, D Palmer, C Stidston-Nott, M Soden, P Jericevic.

Referee: J Van Der Merwe