LONDON Irish continued their winning start to the Greene King IPA Championship season with a thumping 52-20 bonus-point victory over Nottingham Rugby.

Exiles followed up their opening day success at title-rivals Ealing Trailfinders with an eight-try thrashing of Nottingham in their first fixture at Madejski Stadium.

Italian international Luke McLean scored a brace of tries with Ben Meehan, Bryce Campbell, Dave Porecki, Josh McNally, Patric Cilliers and Blair Cowan grabbing one apiece.

Man-of-the-match Stephen Myler also slotted all six of his conversions to make it a miserable day for the visitors.

It took Irish until the 13th minute to register their first try when scrum-half Meehan sniped over after superb build-up play from the pack, with Myler adding the extras.

Nottingham responded through a Shane O’Leary penalty after Porecki had been penalised for a high tackle.

Irish quickly extended their lead to 14-3 when Meehan and Topsy Ojo combined to send USA centre Campbell over the line, Myler nailing a tough conversion from wide right.

Nottingham would not lie down and registered their first try on 34 minutes through Billy Robinson after a defence-splitting move.

But Declan Kidney’s hosts quickly pulled away with two further scores before half time.

Porecki was next to go over for the hosts after superb work from Tom Parton, then McNally also dotted down just before the break to secure a bonus point and put them 28-8 in front.

There was no let up from Kidney’s men and they scored their fifth try just two minutes after the restart when Cilliers crossed from a driving lineout, with Myler’s conversion making it 35-8.

McLean then went over for the first of his two tries just before the hour mark to leave Nottingham reeling.

Exiles also had the edge in the scrum and it was from a set-piece that Cowan darted over for the next score. Meehan, who took over kicking duties from the departed Myler, missed the conversion to leave the hosts 47-8 up.

There was something for the visiting supporters to cheer when David Williams turned defence into attack from his own try line and, three phases later, he squeezed in at the corner for a richly-deserved score. O’Leary added the extras to leave his side trailing 47-15.

Irish were not finished there, and winger McClean went over for his second of the game with eight minutes remaining after a darting run by Brendan McKibbin.

Alex Goble crossed for another Nottingham score in the dying moments, but it was of little consolation on a day that belonged to the Exiles.

London Irish return to action on Sunday, September 23 when they host Bedford at Madejski Stadium (3pm).

London Irish: Parton, Ojo, Stephenson (Hearn 58), Campbell, McLean, Myler (McKibbin 63), Meehan, Reid (Elrington 55), Porecki (Fainga’a 55), Cilliers (Du Plessis 58), Maddison, Paulo (Cowan 48), McNally (c), Ioane, Rogerson (Schatz 55).

Nottingham: Scanlon, Williams, Millett (Goble 68), Peters, Robinson, O’Leary, Veenendahl © (McConnell 55), Sio (Jack 68) , Brownlie (Cole 48), Heffernan (Burke 48), Davies-Moore (Cox 48), Cecil, Buckley, Owen (Farnworth, 73), Poullet.