London Scottish head coach Peter Richards has challenged his players to match last weekend’s performance levels – if not the result – when league leaders Bristol come to town on Saturday.

The Scots were denied a victory in Jersey after the referee awarded a last minute penalty try, allowing the hosts to run out 22-20 victors.

The result keeps them ninth in the Championship table, just 12 points clear of danger and with three games to play, but Richards was full of praise for his team.

He said: "I was really proud of how the guys played in Jersey, the guys played for each other and we've got to accept that some marginal decisions went against us.

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"For 78 minutes we had utter dominance, but it shows what fine margins there are in the league.

“We have been the beneficiary of a few late wins this season so I guess it evens itself out."

The ex-England scrum-half is expecting a similar performance against Bristol, who would seal the title with a win at the Athletic Ground.

"Bristol are a very good side, but so we are we when we get the bit between our teeth,” Richards said.

“If we play like we did [against Jersey] then we will cause them trouble, and we're all excited about it."

He added: “It's our last home game of the season so we owe it to our fans to end on a high.

“We've been trying to play more expansively recently, and hopefully that will pay off."