Saturday 3rd November

National Reserve League Division 4 (East)

Pennypit Sports Complex

GRANGEMOUTH STAGS 2ND XV 12 - 26 PRESTON LODGE RFC 2ND XV

The curse of the Grangemouth selection process continues unabaited with the final team picked on Thursday not particularly resembling the team that took to the field on Saturday. Late call ups, even later call offs, and the usual injuries caused the usual shuffle, but still a fairly strong and recognised line up considering the circumstances.

The game started on a hard but even pitch, sunny, with not much wind to speak of. Neither team took the game by the scruff, but PL were first to score with a penalty for coming in at the side of the scrum. 3-0, and not a lot of action. PL were threatening to rampage thorugh the backs, but it was the opposition for a change showing handling errors and picking the wrong options. On the half hour, Grangemouth had began to dominate the middle of the field, and were able to utilise their own backs in a number of attacks. From an opposing scrum, the Stags charged down the attempted clearnance kick from their no.9 and secured the ball. Gareth McKnight came on at pace to break a number of tackles to finally be brought down on the 5 yard line, but some quick recycling of the ball found Scott Noble able to skirt round the ruck and touch down for the score out wide. The tricky conversion was missed, but the Stags led 5-3. The half closed with a further penalty to PL to take the half time lead of 6-5, but the game was evenly poised.

However, the skeleton team of 15 players took its toll with first Shaun Houldsworth, then Davie Angus, and Scott Noble taking telling knocks throughout the half which allowed PL to begin to force their way a little more. It is worth noting that Angus sustained a nasty head wound after being stamped on that the referee inexpicably did not punish. It was cynical and off the ball and needed a stronger referee to take charge of the incident. Straight after, PL again knocked over a penalty to stretch their lead to 9-5, and piled on further misery with a well constructed score- good hands found their winger to dot down out wide, but conversion missed. The referee further infuriated the travelling team by then proceeding to disallow a perfectly good try from Calum Williamson after bulldozing through the PL defence.

However, Grangemouth rallied well, and got back in to the game when awarded a penalty try after numerous infringements on the goal line after consistent pressure. Gareth McKnight secured the extras to reduce the defecit to 14-12.

Again though, straight from the kick off, PL surged forward with some strong angled running from their full back. Afer initially repelling the attack, PL bundled over the line, but the referee again took up a poor position to see the incident, and signalled a score that was clearly held up.The conversion was easily slotted and it perhaps signalled the final nail in the coffin and a 21-6 lead. There was one further score to PL in the last play of the game which perhaps put an uneven slant on the final score line.

In an even contest, this was a good game that had bursts of activity and good phases from both teams, but on the day PL were the better team at finding the spare man to gain the crucial scores, and setting the more solid platform from the set ball plays of line outs and scrums, regualrly wheeling the pack to turn over ball. The score signalled a continuation of poor results for the seconds, with the team crying out for continuity in selection and availability in players.

Next week there is no doubt that the tails will be up however, as the Stags entertain local rivals Linlithgow at both 1st and 2nd XV level. Kick off for both matched will be 2pm.