In an encouraging much improved performance,although they were hit
with a late rally from West,Falkirk came away as worthy victors at
Burnbrae,Milngavie last weekend. However it was West who got off
the mark first when their Outside-Centre Mark Davis converted a
penalty in the 5th minute,but Falkirk countered only three minutes
afterwards. Turning over the ball on West,s 10 metre line the ball
was sped along the back division for Full-Back Alex Penman to make
huge inroads into the home side's territory before kicking ahead,only
to see it strike their Full-Back and bounce back into the welcome arms
of Right-Winger Matt Morrell,who wasted no time at all in running in
under the posts for Falkirk's opening try,which Alex Penman duly
converted. West,whose numbers included former Scotland and British
and Irish Lions Hooker Gordon Bulloch looking remarkably spritely at
Blind-Side Wing Forward,then put the visitors under some pressure,but
they absorbed it and went further ahead in the 22nd minute. Winning
a line out about 15 metres out a formidable driving maul by the
forwards saw them drive their opposites back over their goal-line for
Number 8 Cole Ronald to get the all important touchdown. Falkirk's
dominance in the forwards was again shown to telling effect,just into
first half injury time,when from a 5 metre ruck Open-Side Wing Forward
Stuart McCulloch was on the spot for the try following another awesome
drive. Half-Time West of Scotland 3 Falkirk 17. Showing
their mettle West opened the half purposefully and were successful
within the first 5 minutes when Centre Mark Davis paved the way for a
try from Winger Mark Sim,but yet again Falkirk retaliated very shortly
afterwards. Concerted pressure by forwards and backs alike saw them
force their way into West's 22 metre area,and from a ruck under the
posts Prop- Forward Ihipa Thompson took possession and crashed his way
over for the bonus point awarding try,with Penman adding the
conversion. Two minutes later Falkirk were again on the rampage when
Wing-Forward Aubrey MnCube broke clear away on West's 10 metre
line,and after surging on Left-Winger Niall Lear took play on as he
broke several attempted tackles on his way to the try-line. However
if Falkirk thought that they were safe and coasting at 29-8 West
struck back in the closing eight minutes with tries from Fraser
Smeaton and Ross McAulay and a conversion from Conor Davis. Falkirk
Team 1.Kris Burney 2.Andrew Simpson 3.Graeme Simpson 4.Will Hansen
5.Laurence Miller 6.Aubrey MnCube 7.Stuart McCulloch 8.Cole Ronald
9.Dan Ritchie 10.Logan Bonnar 11.Niall Lear 12.Andrew Hamilton
13.David Lyle 14.Matt Morrell 15.Alex Penman. Subs.16.Ihipa
Thompson 17.Matt Larson 18.Tom Hobbs 19.David McGuire. This Week
Falkirk are at home where they entertain visitors Ardrossan Accies at
Cala Park,Sunnyside. Kick-Off is at 2.00p.m.

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