WHITECRAIGS KEEP ON TRACK

Whitecraigs kept their promotion hopes very much alive with another well-earned victory in Division 3.   Bottom team Duns fielded their strongest team this season for what proved to be a tougher encounter than the visitors had expected.  Nonetheless the class of the Whitecraigs backs and the fitness of the entire squad saw the Mearns team come out tops.

In perfect conditions, the visitors took some time to shake off the long journey and early lapses let Duns in for a converted try.  It took time for ‘Craigs to settle but after 20 minutes Ally Little broke out to release Ryan Moffat who weaved through the Duns defence to add to his tally of tries.  The ‘Craigs forwards fought well against a strong home pack and a cleanly taken lineout move ended with Nicol Smylie barging across for another 5 points just before half time. 

In the second half the visitors made the most of the slope and the wind to press the Duns line.  Gary Johnston finished off another well taken move to cross for a try in the corner.   David McKelvie came on for an injured Craig Percival and soon rampaged around the park.  One such marauding run set up Ryan Moffat to score another try while Nicol Smylie was unfortunate not to add to the score line after Gavin Mahindru made another of his piercing runs into Duns territory.  A debut appearance by young Sean Connolly of Whitecraigs saw him experience a baptism of fire when he was on the wrong end of a clattering tackle from a Duns forward – undaunted Connolly made sure he safely offloaded the ball and he recovered quickly to get back into he fray. Although Duns grabbed 3 points from a penalty kick they were unable to make up the difference and by the final whistle Whitecraigs were on top by 22 points to 10. 

Coach Jim Henderson was pleased with this first serious run out for his team this year.  His changes to the pack, that included the return of James Henderson and Nikkie and Ben Blamire, gave his young forwards a slight edge over a wily and well drilled set of home forwards and the changes in the backs showed the squad can maintain continuity. The team remain top of the Division and now wait for next week’s visit by fellow promotion challengers Lenzie, in what will be the crunch game of the season. 

Elsewhere, Whitecraigs Seconds won a close fought game at Helensburgh to keep them top of their division and show that ‘Craigs depth of talent extends well beyond their first XV. A home win by the more mature Rhinos made sure the Mearns team had a clean sweep in another successful day for the Club.

First XV: .G Mahindru, G Johnstone, C Percival, G Hutton, Ryan Moffat (c), A Little, S Henderson, A McCormack, B Blamire, I Laidlaw, F Hunter, J Henderson, N Smylie, N Blamire, S Pollock.  Replacements: R Walker, S Connolly, D McKelvie