Hillhead Jordanhill 29 Lasswade 17

Hillhead were early Division leaders with five wins from five but since then have lost five out of eight games. Given this form, Lasswade travelled there hoping, if not expecting to continue their unbeaten run. On this occasion they were overoptimistic.

Storm Malik had not quite blown itself fully out when Lasswade kicked off from the Gartnavel end with the wind behind them. They were soon into their stride with a trademark try punching holes via first and second receivers until space was created in the wide right channel for Kay to open the scoring.

Hills responded well by taking the attack to their visitors, and Reekie popped up on the blindside of a breakdown to score in the right hand corner. That made it 5-5 after the first quarter.

The second quarter of the game laid the foundations for Hills’ eventual win.

Despite having the wind, Lasswade were rarely able to escape from their own twenty two such was the ferocity of the Hills engagement
First across the visitors’ line was hooker, Villon, and then Hills third try of the half showed their willingness to attack from deep and to use the wide channels. Fielding the restart ball in his own 22, Black linked with Davidson and then Genocchio and finally to Black again to finish off the second try in two minutes.

The third quarter was very close with both sides having spells of ascendancy, but Hills defence kept the visitors at bay. Ten minutes in, Harte launched the ball into the Lasswade half and Hills regained possession. After some recycling, Taylor danced his way round several defenders to score a fine finisher’s try. Harte converted to make the score 22-5.

Spurred back into action Lasswade quickly responded with some patient forward play finished off by Robertson and Matt Smith’s conversion brought up 22-12 with 10 minutes to go.

Lasswade’s desperation to score in the little time remaining was their undoing. Halliday spotted a badly telegraphed, lobbed pass, intercepted and galloped to the line unimpeded to make Harte’s conversion easy.

As would be expected Lasswade competed to the end and Robertson added their third try in the last minute to end the scoring at 29-17 in favour of Hills.

Hillhead/Jordanhill deserved this 5 pointer win. Lasswade’s grater physical presence, structured play and experience was outmatched on this occasion by the speed and inventiveness of the opposition.

Lasswade must still be favourites for at least promotion but need to win at least three of their remaining five fixtures for that to be guaranteed.
Next up for Lasswade are second placed West of Scotland who still have an interest in the promotion stakes. Lasswade won the away leg 50-8 but that was back in October and West will arrive at Hawthornden having won their last six matches.

Lasswade have three weeks now to regroup and re-motivate before welcoming West to Hawthornden on 19 February. Kick-off 3pm.