4:46pm Wednesday 16th December 2009
By Stuart Amos
Director of rugby Brett Taylor trusts his players to keep themselves in shape this Christmas as London Scottish prepare for the biggest month of the campaign.
The Exiles beat Tynedale 34-24 on Saturday - their tenth triumph in succession - to keep in the hunt for the National One title as they bid to chase down leaders Esher.
Taylor’s men face third-placed Cambridge, fourth-placed Launceston and the leaders in the opening three weeks of the new year in a make-or-break month for the promotion hopefuls.
And the Athletic Ground chief says he will not force them to live like monks for the next fortnight.
“Rugby is not their main jobs, but the players are pretty switched on about what they need to do to make sure they are there or thereabouts to perform at their best come January,” he said.
“I don’t care what they do away from the club, as long as they are in a position to perform at their best on a matchday.
“Every single week we work on areas of our game that we feel we need improving and that will be no different in the lead up to Cambridge.
“On paper it is a massive month for us. We know what to expect and we must be ready because our league position depends on it.”
Tries from Ben Lonergan (2), Arthur Ellis and Gary Trueman were enough to secure the bonus point win at the weekend that ensured Scottish remained five points adrift of Esher.
Saturday’s clash with Blackheath - the oldest documented rugby club in the country - this Saturday, represents the half-way stage of the season, but Taylor believes there is plenty more to learn.
“We have still not clicked yet this season. We are still newcomers to a new league and I think we are still finding our feet,” he added.
“In terms of the physicality and speed of the game at this level we have adapted, but there are still a lot of unknowns.
“We have still to go to the likes of Launceston, Wharfedale and Tynedale, and being up at the top we are there to be shot at.”
Scottish’s next three games: Dec 19 Blackheath (a), Jan 2 Cambridge (h), 9 Launceston (a).
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