Lasswade RFC

Everything went right for the Lasswade RFC Tournament last Saturday, Thanks to all the teams for their efforts and the referees and to all who helped set things up and ran stalls etc on the day.


In a summer when heavy rain is the norm, the weather was near perfect until after the trphy presentation and, more importantly, the Club won the trophy for the second year running.

In their Group stage, the hosts drew, two penalties each, in a tight encounter with a useful and experienced Livingston, and then, after conceding an interception try to Portobello went on to win comfortably with three converted tries of their own, Youthful Haddington came to the last tie of the group with two victories already so the hosts needed to win if they were to go through to the final. In spite of their best efforts neither side could crack the other’s defence and a perfectly struck long-range penalty from Gavin Brown proved to be the only and deciding score,

On pitch 2, a strong RHC squad achieved three tight but nonetheless winning margins over Ardrossan, Preston Lodge and Glenrothes.

The afternoon was rounded off for the four hundred or so spectators by a hard fought final in which Lasswade’s handling skills and support play proved superior to RHC’s in the end, as they barged or finessed their way to three unanswered tries and a conversion.

George Anderson, Lasswade’s Honorary President, presented the trophy to Gavin Brown, Lasswade’s Captain for a second year who offered the victory as evidence of the Club’s growing readiness for the coming season in the new Championship League B. Brown is a looking forward to the new League which at least year includes the incentive of promotion to the National Division for the winning club.

Attendance at training has been good and most of last year’s squad are available this year and some of the younger players are ready to make the step up.

Dave Cockburn continues as Head Coach who will be assisted again by player-coach, Bernie Hennessey, and Derek O’Riordan has joined them as a forward player coach.

Preparation for the season-proper continues this Saturday with a friendly training match against Biggar at Hawthornden. Kick-off 3pm.

On Sunday at 2.30pm the 2nd xv take on Darlington.