For the last League game before the Long Christmas break, Lasswade travelled to Anniesland for the return leg against Glasgow High/Kelvinside. GHK took the first leg in a low scoring game at Hawthornden. Since then they have fared somewhat better than Lasswade with 5 wins and a draw from their nine and still an outside possibility for the title.

In contrast to the high winds and lashing rain in the East, neither were true at Anniesland apart from an influential wind which GHK had at their backs for the first half.

For first 20 minutes the wind was of little assistance as Lasswade had the slight edge of possession and territory. The first score came for GHK, though when they broke out from their own half and good support play allowed parker to touch down in the corner but still within Greaves’ kicking rand to make it 7-0.

The visitors need ten minute, a ruck on the line and a pop-pass to Hall to claw back just 5 as the conversion went wide.
In the remaining ten minutes, Lasswade managed to collect two yellow cards minutes apart so it was no surprise when GHK stretched their lead with a try by Henderson and greaves was on target with the last kick of the half.

The second half started a bit more brightly for the visitors when some strong forward play help Greig over the line in the corner but again the conversion fell short.

GHK quickly replied with a try beside the post by Spinks and an easy conversion for Greaves.

On the hour a loose clearance kick was gathered and a quick, well supported counter attack gave Parker his second try of the day. Greaves missed that conversion but made up for it ten minutes later using a quickly taken tap penalty to dart to the line and adding the two points himself to finalise the score at 33-10.

Part of Lasswade’s troubles stem s from availability of players and having to dig deep into their reserves. The long Christmas break may give time to resolve some of this by giving injuries time to heal. Something has to get better. Although they may be fourth from bottom, they have played one more game than the three below them and only two points separates all four.

Lasswade’s next League game is at home against Berwick on 11 January at 2pm. Berwick are third from bottom so a win is doubly important.