Lochaber Tame Powerful Wigtownshire Pack

Taken from Oban Times article originally published on 19th September; view article here.

Lochaber Rugby Club bounced back from their defeat last weekend to overcome a battling Wigtownshire side at Banavie on Saturday.

The afternoon didn't begin well for Lochaber as during the warm-up before the match flanker David Duncan pulled up with a hamstring injury, prompting a change to the starting line up.

Wigtownshire travelled with a big pack of forwards and it wasn't long until they started to put pressure on the Lochaber scrum. But the big men from Stranraer were often too keen at the engage, giving away several free kicks in the opening exchanges allowing Lochaber to press further up the pitch.

Before long, Lochaber got their first points of the game as centre Jonathan McCook kicked a penalty to give Lochaber a 3-0 lead but had to limp off injured after hurting his foot in the tackle that gave away the penalty.

Lochaber then lost another player to injury with second row Angus Jenkins injuring his ankle.

Lochaber got their first try of the game when a mix-up at an attacking lineout in Shire's 22 allowed fly half Euan Larter to dart up the blindside and burst through a tackle to dot down under the posts with Rory MacKay converting. MacKay put over another penalty in the first half and shire got two of their own to keep the score board tight.

Shire were pressurising the Lochaber line, looking for that try to bring things level but were denied time after time by the Lochaber defence. Even with a three man over lap, the last man, and captain for the day, William Stewart intercepted the ball to deny them the try.

The tense first half ended 13-6 to Lochaber.

Shire were first to score in the second half but failed to convert their try which left Lochaber with a slender 13-11 lead. Lochaber rallied after the visitors try and their backs were starting to get more time on the ball, putting some pressure on Shire's defence.

That pressure finally paid off when winger John Jones got the ball in front of the posts from a quick tap penalty and stretched out in the tackle to dot the ball down next to the posts, leaving MacKay with an easy conversion to give Lochaber a bit of breathing space.

Lochaber then got their third try of the game with five minutes to go when replacement Findlay Ireland took the ball 10 metres out from the try line. He ran straight into the Shire defence and, with a bit of help from his team mates, finally crossed the line in the corner for Lochaber's third try of the day and Ireland's third try in as many games.

Lochaber ran out 25-11 winners of the match.

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