Howe of Fife 7 Lasswade 34

With nine wins from 12 against Howe’s five, the form book was strongly in the visitors’ favour. Until last week that is, when Howe were defeated by league leaders, Kirkcaldy, by just one point and that from a try deep in second half stoppage time. All visitors to Howe were reminded that they are not to be taken for granted.

Lasswade travelled without either of their two main hookers for this season and Calum Sinclair stepped into the gap after a long injury absence. Out on the wing Arran Thomas was called up as a late replacement for Matt Smith.

Howe kicked off on a firm pitch in bright sunshine with a chill in the air but no wind to speak of.

Lasswade laid down an early marker with some controlled and patient possession play mostly among the forwards with Lamond outstanding then and throughout the eighty minutes to earn their player of the match.

Such driving play set up the first try just 11 minutes in and after a couple of breakdowns and recycles near the home line Elliot picked up from the base of a ruck and drove into the corner.

Lasswade continued to lead on both possession and territory and in the set scrums in particular. Just past the quarter hour, having been held up at the line, the visitors proceeded to push the resultant scrum backwards. Within inches of the push-over try, the Howe front row broke up and the referee had little option but to signal a penalty try and automatic seven points.

While under the cosh up front, Howe were dangerous when they managed to get the ball out wide to their wingers and, approaching the half hour, Aitken demonstrated this when he gathered the ball on half way and stepped and weaved his way to the posts for Lathangie to make it 7-12.

Play tightened up for the remainder of the first 40 minutes but a minute into stoppage Bell used a a penalty to set up a lineout deep in the Howe 22 and although the catch and drive was soon stopped, patient recycling at three rucks on the line set Blair Smith up to make the last metre to the line and the half time score of 7-17.

The third quarter followed a similar pattern to the first two but Howe held out until almost the hour. From a scrum on the right wing of the home 22 the ball was moved swiftly by miss passes to Thomas who backed himself to round the his opposite number and squeeze in at the left corner for the bonus point try and effectively secure the game at 7-22.

Ten minutes later it was a break by Thomas again supported by Wilson that set up a ruck deep in Howe 22 and Bell broke down the tight side to touch down and then added the conversion to take the lead to 22 points.

Bell featured in the final score, setting up McKenzie to barge in from 15 metres for the sixth try and a not totally expected comfortable tally of six tries to one.

This was a much more composed and organised Lasswade performance and a return to pre-Christmas form. It earns them second place in the table, nine points behind Kirkcaldy and two ahead of Hamilton and Dumfries. Kirkcaldy are looking uncatchable but there is not much room for error amongst the five teams clearly still in the contest for second place.

Lasswade will hope to add to their winning run when West of Scotland are their guests this Saturday at Hawthornden. Kick-off 3.00pm.