Match report by Stephen Greenhill.

The first Angus derby for the Sharks was a trip away to Montrose. A motivated Sharks went into the game sitting 2nd in the league, tied on points with Montrose but ahead on points difference.
The game started in a flash of fast paced ruby, with Montrose drawing first blood after playing some fantastic side to side rugby before crashing over the line but failed to convert the try, they lead 5-0. Pressure at the kick off forced Montrose to spill the ball and Angus Fairlie to collect the loose ball and set Macaulay Holgate up to score to bring the Sharks level.
The Sharks dominated play, driving back Montrose in the scrum and winning ball against the head. Alex King, Jack Wilson and Kieren Edmeades secured ball at the breakdown with ruthless rucking whilst Jonathan Blackie causing havoc for Montrose at the line out. The backs hit some fantastic lines at rewarded the team with a scrum on the Montrose 5m line. Stewart Kings and Dylan McKenzie were great with their support play. Angus Fairlie picked from the back of the scrum and powered over the line to score and the conversion was successful, the Sharks led 5-12.
The Sharks lost momentum and lacked clarity when making decisions, especially when awarded a penalty. The lack of quickness and drive slowed play down. This allowed Montrose to claw back a try, 10-12, and the Sharks responded with some slick passing plays which sliced the defence open but couldn't complete the final execution.
Half time Sharks lead 10-12.
Montrose were quick out the blocks scoring two unconverted tries to regain the lead 20-12. The Sharks capitalised from Montrose having a man sent to the sin bin, winning a scrum against the head and exploited a weak centre paring and charged down the centre of the pitch. From a last ditch Montrose tackle the ball was offloaded from the deck to Dean Farquarson who drove through two defenders to score. The Sharks were with-in striking distance trailing only 20-17. The game became de-structured both sides making a series of errors but the Sharks maintained their physicality and played the better rugby as they had done the entire game. Injustice was tasted as Montrose received their final try of the game. A solo line break from their full back sliced open the Sharks defence and none of the Sharks could match the full backs pace in a 40m foot race, score 25-17. The Sharks piled the pressure on the Montrose forwards and once again demonstrated to the big Montrose pack that the Sharks meant business, driving the scrum back, stealing the ball and made headway for the try line. Macaulay scored the try and the conversion looked as though it was good but the bitter coastal wind took the distance off the kick and it hit the crossbar. It was now a three point game, 25-22.
The final phase of the game saw 2 yellow cards and a series of penalties for the Sharks as the clocked turned red and a mad scrap was on to make ground and score. However the Sharks couldn't clinch the all-important try. The penalties against Montrose for elementary mistakes at the breakdown allowed the Sharks to gain 50+ metres. The final penalty 15m from the line was countered by a blitz defence and the Sharks lost focus, the ball was dropped and kicked into touch by Montrose.

Final Score Montrose 25 – 22 Strathmore Sharks.

The Sharks take 2 points from the game 1 for scoring 4+ tries and 1 for losing by less than 7 points. Which hopefully should keep them in the running for 2nd place. It was a fantastic game of rugby to watch and no one could deny that it wasn’t entertaining.
Squad: McKenzie, Dyer, S Kings, Farquharson, O'Brien, Baldie, Voice, Edmeades, Cashley, Blackie, Wilson, A Kings, Fairlie, Holgate, Angus, Murray, Lawrie, Flynn.