The big, wide pitch at Countesswells would allow PL’s half-backs and field-kickers, Greg Leitch and Graeme Paterson plenty of scope to keep firing the ball down field for their pack to chase and let them carry the ball into the danger areas. It took only two minutes for this part of the game plan to come to fruition when Leitch’s defensive clearance from his own half obligingly bounced into touch on the Gordonians 22. It was then stolen back from the line-out by Blair Cowan and he found his new, second row partner Euan Thayne and No. 8 Paul Voy in support and they were formidable as they carried it forward towards the line. A series of pick and go phases followed and despite Gordonians having a hefty pack of their own, they were unable to stop the progress and it was fairly simple in the end for Nick Marsh to finish things off by diving over for the opening score. Leitch added the conversion and early indications were that PL looked comfortable and were playing with confidence when they had the ball in hand.
Gordonians have also had some decent performances this season, so they were not to be taken lightly and they often capitalised on loose ball as their back division looked especially lively going forward. They too could make use of their wide pitch and had a decent chance of scoring after a 50 metre break looked like it would lead to a try in the corner. Good defence from Armstrong and Thomson forced the winger into touch and the danger passed as this time, Paterson was able to clear the lines when he received clean ball from the line out.
PL’s front row of the McLean brothers and Nick Marsh were causing their opponents all sorts of problems in the scrum and Leitch was enjoying himself at scrum half with so many options from the quality possession he was receiving. Despite this, PL were finding it difficult to get themselves into decent scoring positions and were finding it impossible to break through the secure, Gordonian back line.
On the half hour mark, the PL supporters enjoyed a good passage of play from their team as Chris Guiney joined the line and linked with Ali Wood to get the ball as far as the 22. From there, the pack took over again with short drives that the defence struggled to stop and with the referee signalling advantage to PL, a short pass found Graeme Paterson and the stand-off nonchalantly took one step and dropped a brilliant goal from way out wide to increase PL’s lead to 0-10.
PL’s confidence grew from this and the final 10 minutes of the half saw them dominate all areas of play. Leitch narrowly missed from a penalty after a Guiney kick into the 22 isolated the home full back and he was forced to hold on to the ball. Thayne, Dixon and Archer were all over the midfield backs and Cowan and Voy were in control of the line-out. As half time approached, the pack put on a final big push with a 30 metre drive and they deserved more than the penalty that the referee awarded when Gordonians came in from the side as they desperately tried to stop the move. Leitch made no mistake with the kick to give his side a handy 0-13 lead at the break.

PL started the second half with a more expansive move when Leitch collected the ball from a scrum and fed it out the Jonathan Brash. The winger made good ground down the right before returning the ball to Leitch and he was unlucky to step into touch as he rounded the defence en route to the line. Normal service was soon resumed though and the second try was routinely scored as the pack protected the ball from their opponents and this time, Cammy McLean provided the finishing touch to the try.
Gordonians still looked lively with ball in hand and a series of good passes created plenty of space in midfield for their centre to break through before flicking the ball out to the wing. The dangerous move was halted when Brash felled his opponent with a great tackle on the 22 and Leitch gathered the loose ball to clear the lines.
This was really Gordonians’ last chance to score in the match but they still contributed enough to prevent PL from finding many decent opportunities of their own. The home scrum was still in trouble and PL’s replacement prop Keith Duncan only added to their woes but as the clock ticked on, the chances to score another two tries to earn a bonus point seemed few and far between. They didn’t manage to score their third and final try until the 35th minute when Andrew Archer stayed tucked in at the back of a maul and touched down with ease. Leitch added the conversion and with the scoreboard showing 0-25, PL’s job was done for the afternoon.

This comfortable performance showed that PL have set themselves up nicely for the second half of the campaign which starts in two weeks time, on the road again at Helensburgh.

Preston Lodge team:
C Guiney, J Brash, J Armstrong, A Wood, D Thomson, G Paterson, G Leitch,
S McLean, N Marsh, C McLean, E Thayne, B Cowan, A Archer, C Dixon, P Voy.
Replacements:
D Wardell, K Duncan, J Anderson (All used)