Lasswade 53 Langholm 6 - a fitting end to a stupendous season

Langholm could only manage to bring a bare fifteen as their farmer members returned to the fields full time but possibly also because nothing in particular hung on the result. That fifteen could not be accused of not trying though they were always going to be up against it even though Lasswade also had a handful of regulars on the sidelines still recovering from injuries sustained at Murrayfield a fortnight ago.

A small crowd basked in the sun as Langholm kicked of towards Bonnyrigg and ihe hosts were soon putting pressure on the Borderers 22 but having been held out a couple of times opted for a Wood goal at the first opportunity four minutes in.

Langholm bounced back and from some enterprise of their own levelled the score five minutes later, courtesey of a home ruck infringement.

Traffic tended to be more one way the next twenty five minutes as Brown finished off a patient, controlled series of possession just before the second quarter and, with half an hour gone, Hennessey, playing at No 7 this week, broke from a ruck and set Taylor up for a short run to the posts. A Wood conversion stretched the lead to 15-3.

Still far from beaten Langholm burst back and Davidson snapped a slick drop goal.

The relief was brief, though, as the League Champions turned on the pressure again when a break by Hennessey was well supported by Clark and between them they ran the ball back sixty metres for Wood to convert from in front of the posts and make the half time score of 22-6.

The tone for the remainder of the game was set within the first minute of the second period. Clark broke from a scrum on the home 22, had Hennessey on his shoulder and as the support arrived, Kyle Smith drove over in the corner..

Resistance didn’t totally end but Langholm could not prevent another try by Clark and a hat trick from .Hennessey who clearly enjoyed his return to the back row.

James Elliot was man-of-the-match partly because of a good break followed by a perfectly executed if somewhat cheeky chip cross-kick gifting Hennessey his second try.

Its been just over 20 years since the has been so much to celebrate at the Club Annual Dinner on 13th May having taken the League One Championship, the Shield and the Penicuik Sevens.

There’s to be no resting on laurels, though, and planning for the even greater challenges of Premier 3 has already begun and the services of Coach Dave Cockburn and of Assistant Coach Bernie Hennessey have already been secured.

Opponents next year won’t include Musselburgh who have lost their relegation battle but Haddington will travel to Bonnyrigg on competitive business for the first time in many a decade. And there’s always Greenock Wanderers!

While most rugby takes a well earned rest at Hawthornden until formal training for next season starts in July. this Saturday it’s Lasswade’s turn to host the annual 0ver-35 Tommy Gray Challenge Match against Dunfermline.