Grangemouth Match Report – 9 Feb 2008

Falkirk 62 – Grangemouth 5

This time of year is traditionally devoted to International rugby, so it was with a light heart that Grangemouth headed to Falkirk RFC for the rearranged Caledonia Section Scottish Hydro Cup fixture.

With most of the club in Wales on our Biennial trip to our friends in Llandybie, it was an interesting mix of youth, experience and some real clapped out models (yes David Angus I do mean you) combining with the remaining five first team guys to field a team for the day.

We were surprised to see the Falkirk starting XV, as they to were in Wales, obviously the Falkirk coach wasn’t prepared to risk defeat and once the game was rearranged for this weekend, must have told the first team guys that were going to Wales, to stay at home.

The conditions were ideal for a game of rugby with unseasonal warmth and miraculously no rain. Falkirk showed their intent from the kick off with a series of probing runs and kicks to stretch the Grangemouth defence. This resulted in the first score within 5 mins. The next 20 minutes of the match was pretty evenly matched with Grangemouth getting out of their half on a couple of occasions but couldn’t get numbers to the ball to pressurise Falkirk.

Falkirk then stepped up a few gears and began scoring at will to give a half time score of Falkirk 40 Grangemouth 0

Kicking with the wind in the second half, Grangemouth were eager to use the conditions to their advantage. Falkirk’s power and finishing saw them score more tries.

Falkirk were obviously concerned at the scoreline as they brought on X Scotland hooker Kevin Mckenzie to bolster the pack. Just after this Grangemouth grabbed a consolation score when Chris Keigan burst through four tackles, set the ball up which was fed to Murray Forbes who ran in from the 22 to touchdown despite close attention from a number of Falkirk defenders. The conversion was missed.

Falkirk scored another 24 points in the second half to run our worthy winners with a full time scoreline of Falkirk 64 Grangemouth 5. Grangemouth will now meet Madras in the Bowl competition.

Speaking from Cardiff, Grangemouth President Alan MacKenzie praised the efforts of the scratch team “I am pleased that the boys put in their best efforts. This was in effect our second team so it’s no disgrace to lose to Falkirk 1sts. I was delighted to hear that Jamie Baxter from the U18s played the full match today to demonstrate our commitment to youth rugby. Our focus is on the league campaign so good luck to Falkirk in the next round of the competition”