Again the injury blight, school trips and work commitments struck the Dunbar squad, as they prepared for the most important game of their season. A victory here against Lasswade, and against Murrayfield Wanderers in 2 weeks, would guarantee the colts a place in the top 4 and the National cup, which could mean a trip to Ayr or Highland.
The players missing this week were Matt McPhillips, Hamish Darrah, Brad Robertson, Ryan Silver, and Kyle Laing. This would have been the perfect opportunity to play the Scotland U17 and 1stXV player Karl Main, as the 1st xv didn’t have a game, but guess what, he too, was injured.
Dunbar Colts had a limited squad of 16players. The coaches knew that every one of them would do a job. Lasswade had narrowly beaten the colts earlier in the season, in an ill- tempered game, which had 2 yellows and a red card. By co-incidence today we would have the same referee, Mr Ian Hewitt.
Today would be a chance to exact revenge. Both teams had a lot of changes, Lasswade were looking for their first victory in the top 6, while the home side were looking for their second.
The game was played on the 1stXV pitch which was in good condition. Straight away from the kick off, Lasswade put Dunbar under intense pressure, and the home side held up superbly, their defence seemingly impenetrable for 25mins, then finally the visitors broke through, scored their first try and converted.
Dunbar did win a few penalties in their own half, but continued to stick to their principles and play running rugby. There were some muttered criticisms from the home crowd, who wanted the team to kick and gain territory. The coaches for the colts ask their team to play in a certain style, where all the players are comfortable and confident with ball in hand. If the opposition are in Dunbar's 5m and they are under pressure, they will kick as the last option, otherwise they will continue to stick to an attacking brand of rugby, critics please remember the Colts have won more than they have lost, and more importantly the players enjoy it. But I digress....
Unfortunately 2 minutes before halftime, Dunbar conceded a second try. Dunbar had hardly been out of their own half. The home side were not getting to the breakdown quickly enough or being competitive at the ruck. Also Lasswade had used the rolling maul to great effect.
One change was made at halftime with Cameron Sinclair coming on in second row for the irrepressible "Cod", who had worked extremely hard for the first half. Dunbar had Lasswade under pressure but could not get that elusive score, Dunbar were guilty of too many elementary errors in passing and the ball was knocked on too many times, everything seemed too rushed. Someone had to take control and calm things down. Then disaster struck against the run of play, Lasswade broke through the heart of the home defence much too easily, to score their 3rd try.
Credit to the courageous home side who came storming back into the game, a sweeping move was finished off by Denham Blair, who had made a great supporting run, and scored in the corner, to put Dunbar back in the game.
This was soon followed up by a second try for Dunbar, after more intense pressure and great build up play with Chris Baikie scoring the important points. The home side could sense they could get something out of this game.
Unfortunately their optimism was short lived, time was not on Dunbar’s side, and Lasswade landed a killer blow with the final score of the game, again cutting through the middle, past tired players and broken tackles.
Fulltime Dunbar 10 Lasswade 24
This was a very close game, and although Dunbar did not play to their best, they gave their all and were never out of it. They defended resolutely and did play some decent rugby in phases. Lasswade played well and to their strengths, and deserved their victory. The game was played in the right spirit.
The Dunbar coaches were proud of their players, as they have been all season. It was just one of those days, when things didn't go according to plan, naturally the players were very disappointed at the result. No individual was to blame, you win as a team and you lose as a team. It is a learning experience, what they have to do is pick themselves up, train hard on putting right, the teams weaknesses, and look forward to the next game in 2 weeks away to Murrayfield Wanderers on the 22nd of December.