Carluke Tigers pulled off the result of the season on Saturday, beating the Eagles in Edinburgh! It was Edinburgh's first loss on home soil in three years, and the Tigers more than deserved it in this play-off showdown, with the Tigers booking their place in the RLC Scottish 2009 Grand Final!

This match was one of hard work, guts and commitment, which the Tigers had straight from the first whistle. Early in the first half Edinburgh saw most of the ball, but the Tigers defence was resolute, with the Tigers pack putting in some bone crunching hits. Once in possession the Tigers looked dangerous with some very powerful drives, but in the opening exchanges failed to gain continuity. Within the first 20 minutes the Eagles had two penalties from close range, which they chose to take at goal, so strong was the Tigers defence. Eagles scrum half Andy Grodynski successfully converting both opportunities to give the Eagles a 4 - 0 lead.

Following this the Tigers gained further composure with the ball in hand, and after some good work by the forwards, a searing break by Kyle Matheson fed a pass back infield to Bart Karalus, and the second row dutifully outpaced the Eagles defence from 40 meters to score under the posts, with Ross McAuley converting.

The Tigers then continued to take the game to the Eagles, and just before half time the Tigers ended a period of sustained pressure on the Eagles line when John McAuley send Bart Karalus over for his second score. This try was again converted by Ross McAuley, putting the Tigers 12-4 up at the interval.

Half Time - Carluke Tigers 12 Edinburgh Eagles 4

The second half opened with the usual barrage of big hits that this game became famous for, but the Tigers were soon again putting pressure on, and Kyle Matheson scored a wonderful try in the corner five minutes into the half following some great footwork to beat his opposite number. This put the Tigers 16-4 up, and confidence levels were high, but the Eagles were in no mood to lie down.

The remaining 35 minutes of the half tested the Tigers defence to the limits as the Eagles came with wave upon wave of attack, but it was a test the Tigers passed with flying colours. As the Tigers failed to keep possession for any sustained period, the Eagled launched attack after attack, but the tigers were impenetrable, despite twice going down to 12 men due to dubious yellow card offences.

With fifteen minutes left the Tigers then had a moment of inspiration. Following a half break by Craig Simmonds, Melvin Hart tore the line apart with a blistering run from all of 70 meters out, finishing with a perfect sidestep of the home fullback then showing great gas to finish under the posts. Ross McAuley again converted, 22-4 to the Tigers, match point.

The following ten minutes followed the most bizarre period in the Tigers short history, with 3 players receiving a red card, reducing the Tigers to 10 men against the Eagles 13. Two of these red cards seemed a mystery at the time, but the Tigers battled on against a three man advantage, and manfully held Edinburgh out until their wing managed to make use of the permanent overlap to go over in the corner with the last play of the ball. All in all, both teams battled bravely, but the Tigers were the best team on the day, and will now eagerly wait to find out their opponents in the Grand Final.

Full Time - Carluke Tigers 22 Edinburgh Eagles 8

Carluke Tigers; L. Matheson, L. McWhinnie, K. Matheson, J. McAuley, M. Hart, R. McAuley, J. Hillis, M. Martin, C. Lewis, N. McAuley, B. Karalus C. Simmonds, B. Whitehead.
Subs; G. Sloan, G. Ferguson, L. Bryson, A. Lynch.

Edinburgh Eagles; Broere, Graham, McDonald, Knight, Scoular, Trotter, Grodynski, Carrol, Lomax, Wallace, Onions, Anderson, Grady.
Subs; Chevalier, Gilbert, Anderson, Robertson .