Saturday 15 September 2007

ROSS HIGH RFC 2ND XV 46 – 5 GRANGEMOUTH STAGS RFC 2ND XV

Although a league fixture, Grangemouth failed to field a starting 15 due to the away journey time and numerous damaging late call offs. The Stags travelled with 15 players with strong hopes of pulling off a convincing win, but somehow contrived to lose three players in call offs on the way!

However, the Stags were offered a forfeit and an automatic loss of 21-0, but decided to reject this and play with only 12 players against a full strength Ross High. On a firm grassy pitch with a ferocious cross wind, the Stags kicked off and held on valiantly for 10 minutes before conceding the first score. Indeed, Ross High only managed to clock up a further 2 tries in the half and led by 19-0 at the turn. This was largely due to some incredible heart shown in the tackle by the young back row, while Calum Taylor and a return of Danny Bain ensured there was some old heads to steady the nerves and marshal the play.

A remarkable stat is that there were FOUR brothers playing in the side for the Stags with Shaun, Rob, Kiefer and Saul Houldsworth all playing like terriers snapping at the heals of the opposition. It is unknown if this has ever been repeated at this or any other club before!

However hard the Stags tried though, the game was always slipping away from them and in the end they went down fighting by 46 points to a try from Saul Houldsworth. Playing at 10, he visibly matured as the game progressed and began to show his talent by dotting down after some fine stepping and tenacious driving.

It was immensely pleasing to see such a young team stick to a lost cause for so long and restrict the well drilled opposition to less than 50. No one gave up for the full 80 minutes, while the tackling and fitness of the entire team remained impressive. It is a good question of just how competitive this game would have been had Grangemouth managed to field their customary full strength side, and are sure to look forward to the return fixture in the near future at Glensburgh to see.

The next fixture for the 2nd XV is away to Edinburgh Accies 3rd XV this coming Saturday.