Broughton's triple puts Scottish in good shape for Esher

3:29pm Tuesday 5th January 2010

By Stuart Amos

London Scottish flyer Charlie Broughton has warned National Division One title rivals Esher the Exiles are hard on their heels after bagging a hat-trick at the weekend.

The 23-year-old winger claimed the man of the match award as Scottish beat Cambridge 33-10 to avenge a 38-26 defeat to the same opposition earlier in the season.

The result puts director of rugby Brett Taylor’s men level on points with Esher at the top of the table - having played a game more - ahead of their eagerly awaited clash later this month.

And Broughton thinks Scottish are in good shape for what could be a promotion decider.

“I’d rather be in our position than theirs. They may have an extra game, but they know they cannot slip up,” he said.

“It is significant. If they lose this weekend they know it only adds to the pressure when we face them. They cannot afford to lose again.

“Our game is looking doubtful because of the weather and if their game is off they won’t have played since before Christmas, which could really play into our hands.”

Broughton, well known for his questionable taste in footwear, unleashed a new pair of blue boots on Cambridge at the weekend, as he looks to move ahead of injured full-back Frankie Neale in the Scottish top try-scoring stakes.

His triple on Saturday means he has scored nine in ten outings this season - despite being dropped from the starting line-up in October - and he admits he has scrum-half Simon Amor to thank for his resurgence.

“I was out of selection because of a bad run of results in September. I spoke to Simon and he told me to concentrate on working extra hard on my weaknesses,” he added.

“People have often said my defence is my weak point, but I think the same people will admit that over the last four or five games it has probably become a strong point.

“If I get the same number of tries as I get appearances this year, I’ll be happy. It would be nice to beat Frankie, but as long as we are all scoring in the right places it doesn’t really matter.”

Acton-based Broughton, who scored four against Bridgwater & Albion last season, scored 16 tries in 16 appearances as Scottish claimed the National Division Three South title in April.

“You look at your own performance and wonder if you’re playing better than you were last and I’d like to think I am,” he said.

“I think that goes for the whole team. We are moving forward as individuals and as a team at the moment. We are clearly building each week.”

Scottish’s next three games: Jan 9 Launceston (a), 16 Esher (h), 23 Nuneaton (a).