A bright, but chilled day brought the Boroughmuir Bears out for a visit to the Hawthornden complex. This week’s home team had not varied too much from the Coaches drawing board and again the home side were able to field a strong team. The home side also welcomed their favourite Irishman, apart from Derek O’Riordan LOL, back to ref the game.
The home side kicked off into the low sun and pressed the visitors hard from the off. The team was working relentlessly and retained the ball for a lot of good possession and territory. The defence was much improved with first up tackles being good and making it hard for the Bears to dance through. But unfortunately the team was quick to throw all this hard work away by giving away silly penalties and masses of territory. This was enraging the coaches, with Craig Adam looking more like Phil Mitchell every second of the game!! It was a close contest right across the park and looked like the score line was going to remain pointless at half time, when a moment of inspiration from Russell Gladstone and a good splattering of luck allowed him to strike a drop goal which stuttered over the crossbar, heh but it went over so who cares how it got there!!
HALF TIME LASSWADE 2XV 3 - BOROUGHMUIR BEARS 0
Again, discipline was letting us down and this was strongly highlighted by all. But there were many more positives for the coaches to focus on and encourage more of the same. The scrums and lineouts had been good secure ball allowing the backs to be unleashed on some pulsating runs. The second half started again with Lasswade taking it to the opposition and some good interlinking play between Gari Coleman and Neil Durie allowed Russell Gladstone over for a converted try. This spurred the Bears forward and they finally got on the score board with an unconverted try. The forwards were still competing well with Oz Wright, Andy Glass and Joe Taylor all showing the way forward. Ali Lamond was unleashing Russell Gladstone and his back line on some glorious runs and this pressure was telling. A moment of shear class by Gari Coleman from a penalty saw a beautifully weighted cross field kick to Neil Durie allowing the winger to regain the kick and score a well worked try. Our Maori Monster, yes the T-Bomb made his presence felt with some massive hits and I’m sure our sympathies lie with the Bears 15 who well and truly suffered the wrath of the T-Bomb – OOYAH!!! In the dying moments of the game a good driving maul by the forwards allowed El Presidenti, our Numero Uno Ian Barr to be held up on the line – WHERE IS THE TMO WHEN YOU NEED ONE!!! I was in a far better position than the ref to see the ball had clearly been dotted down, but hey ho. Again infinite wisdom with the Specsavers Sponsorship!!
It was a great team performance by all 22 in the squad and the smiles told a thousand stories. I’m sure the guys then went on to have a more enjoyable Halloween Party at the club and have plenty of beer and cookies!!!
ALSO A MASSIVE THANKS TO BLACKLEY CATERING FOR THE BEAUTIFULLY BAKED PIE AND BEANS AFTER THE GAME.