With new players coming out of the woodwork we had 16 training last Wednesday and 15 turning up today with still a few to come, roll on next season. What a surreal situation where we had more numbers than the opposition. New recruit Sean after his first session during the week joined us for our last match of the season. So the makeup of the team looked like, Harry, Max, Duncan, Ben, Lewis, LewisB, CameronM, Joe for the forwards and Cammie, Chris, Grant, Ross, Luke, Nial and Sean,

Lasswade had their annual dinner the Friday before and one of the speakers was the man behind the voice of SRTV Ron Evans, so this is written with the ink of his voice.

We are here at the home of Falkirk RFC as the Midlothian outfit Lasswade meet their Premier 2 hosts for an end of season clash, no honours at stake today just pride. It is a glorious day for tactical rugby as the wind and rain are belting doon along the pitch so both teams will feel the force. The boys have been working hard and are eager to put on a performance that will
make them happy in the off season. Falkirk, short of a player so we dropped one so starting with 12, 5 up front and 7 backs while all subs are forwards.

Lasswade win the toss with captain of the day Chris choosing to have the wind in their favour for the first half. Lasswade start with a go forward attitude but Falkirk have other plans as they stop them gaining too much momentum. The game swings both ways as each attempt to gain the upper hand until close to the hosts 22 Harry, the prop from Lasswade, once again gets hold of the ball one handed fending off as he attempts to breach the Falkirk line. He continues his bounce attack approach waiting for a hole to appear, one did on the right flank, he strode forward toward the try line, gaining momentum, striding past the try line, unstoppable, he continued on past the dead ball line. A 22 given but a posthumous try awarded. Some really good efforts by both teams follow as they produce some skill both in contact and open play considering the weather conditions and the soft surface underfoot. Falkirk look the better at the breakdown as they put on pressure at ruck time but they are held back by a Lasswade pack that looks determined not to loose possession. With a good attack moving into Falkirk territory a turnover leads to a quick counter through the hands and round the corner for a try. Falkirk strike quickly again this time through the middle as Lasswade seem not to defend. A couple of further tries follow as Lasswade players are tight to one side and as a result don’t defend with width allowing turnover ball to go wide around the flank for other tries. Lasswade seem to awaken from their slumber and with support put pressure on their opposition to break out of their half and drive on, as they keep going entering the 22 and with a final surge by Grant to drag a couple of defenders over the line for a determined try.
The Midlothian team begin the second half in good spirits and with the weather calming down, this will favour them as they don’t have to fight against the elements. The second half gets under way with a superb high kick held up by the breeze and with hang time a plenty it allows the Lasswade forwards a chance to get the ball as it drops just over the 10m line. The boys are putting more pressure on each other as try to regain momentum won in the first half but neither team is relenting under the pressure. With many a player making a break only to be stopped or held up, plenty of contact and a damp ball results in loose ball on the ground causing confusion with players attempting the kick when a dive being the better option. Lasswade seem to have the upper hand on occasion with tries from Duncan and Chris as the pressure mounted in the oppos 22. Falkirk scoring 2 tries from long range balancing out the half.

I thought this was a dam good showing by the boys today, the rugby attitude has grown and a few of them were really looking forward to getting stuck in. Nial started with a sore chest, thanks for that, Ross put in what he said he was going to, Cammie doing his usual stuph taking it on and to the big guys, LewisB was borderline around the rucks, Chriss front on man-n-ball steals and his kicking excellent. Duncan played in 3 positions today, front row, second row and wing with a try to boot. And what about Harry, his bounce fend attack resulted in him having the ball taken off him by the smallest man on the park, over the dead ball line the second time, he was getting keen in the rucks, his scrummaging was really good as they were big guys and put the pressure on, his line out was excellent winning most of theirs against the head. It was only when the hooker started passing to the scrum half (against the wind) did they win any. His passing was really good too and a couple of times when there was a bit of push and shove going on, nothing to it but I just pointed to the boys with a “whats goin on” to which Harry replied “hes touching me”, got to be the quote of the season. Having said that I have to leave the best for last, Sean, first time in a rugby strip but his attitude was superb. Gets close to the man and wraps himself round, ball in hand he goes forward until he hears a shout to pass the ball. Playing full back, a position full of responsibility but hes not looking after himself in contact, this will come and when it does he will be twice as good. Hes a player, the sort of person you can build a team round. Hes my man of the match although a lot of guys put there hand up for it today, well done hopes there more like to follow.

We will continue with training or the get togethers until the end of the month where we will have an end of season presentation for best player etc. That should happen on the 27th where we may have a midi Olympics with a number of events, get training, hit the gym as your all welcome. Ill do an exclusive no holes barred behind the scenes out in the open on all the gossip as to who where when why and what the boys have been getting up to when they say they are training but don’t come home tired.

Lasswade RFC

Falkirk RFC

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