Lasswade 28 Peebles 15

Newly promoted from National League Three, Lasswade’s opener was to be a baptism of fire against the team that came third in Division 2 last season. Although they reported a couple of players lost from that team, Peebles had to be a fair indication of what to expect at this level.

Lasswade kicked off in perfection conditions both underfoot and overhead. Things looked ominous for Lasswade when with his first touch of the ball Peebles’ No 12 Anderson ghosted through the smallest of gaps and was only stopped when well into the home 22 and forced an early penalty which Raeburn slotted with ease.

The attack was brought to an end illegally and Raeburn put the visitors’ first 3 points on the board with just two minutes gone. Although most of the play stayed in the home half one sally brought an equalising penalty converted by Bell a few minutes later.

The Peebles back line continued to pose problems to the home defence and in the eleventh minute continuous pressure created an overlap for Brown to cross and round under the posts for Raeburn to make it 3-10.

More or less from the restart a rampant Peebles side whipped to ball wide to King on the right wing and after evading two tacklers he looked unstoppable until a try-saving tackle by full-back Gray bundled him into touch just 3 metres short.

From this point the tide began to turn in Lasswade’s favour. They adjusted their defence to contain the threats from the Peebles backs and began to keep the ball close amongst the forwards where the opponents were weaker.

By the half hour, possession and territory were more evenly shared and after a series of five metre scrums at the visitors’ end Blair Smith drove over from a ruck on the line and Bell tied the scores again.

The hosts maintained the upper hand earning two more Bell penalties and from the restart after the second the ball was safely gathered and whipped out to Lamont on the right wing on the half way line where there were also several defenders. A bit like the parting of the Red Sea a gap opened up for no obvious reason for Lamont to sprint through, side-step two more defenders and be mismatched against a forward as the last line and which he easily rounded to run in under the posts. With the last kick of the half Bell made it 23-10.

Peebles renewed their efforts in the third quarter but Lasswade defended their lead so stubbornly and effectively that desperation and frustration began the affect the visitors’ composure. Yellow cards started to fly and one red for the Peebles hooker so that both sides were one or two men short for much of the last twenty minutes.

Lasswade kept their focus better and after a period camped in the opposition 22 won a penalty 15 metres out. From a quick tap the ball was whipped wide to Lamont to round the last defenders and claim his second try and Lasswade’s Player of the Match award.

An unaccustomed 18 points behind now, Peebles stepped up a gear into catch-up mode and gave their support some uplift when their winger outflanked his opposite number to ground in the corner with some 15 minutes still to play. This proved to be false hope though as Lasswade knuckled down and outplayed them through the final minutes.

This has to count as a good start to the League season and the Bonnyrigg club will want to continue in this vein when they travel north to take on Aberdeenshire this Saturday. Kick-off 3pm.