Craigs Piping Hot at Madras

Whitecraigs made the journey to St Andrews to play Madras, hoping to continue their winning form and consolidate their position at the top of the league.

The faithful travelling support were not disappointed as Craigs produced an excellent controlled game of rugby in difficult conditions.

From the kick off  the visiting team showed their intentions with excellent handling skills and exerting pressure on the home defence.

This bore fruit as after nine minutes Blamire scored after a great exchange of passes which covered the length of the pitch.

Six minutes later Fisher scored in the corner and then in the remaining 25 minutes of the first half, tries by Smylie, Fisher and Blamire took the half time score 31-7 for Whitecraigs.

It was pleasing for the coach and the supporters that the bonus point was secured after half an hour’s play.

The second half continued in much the same way and three more tries were scored by Little, Moffat and Brown to take the final score to 50-7.

Ryan Moffat converted 5 of the eight tries scored.

This was an outstanding display of organised and controlled rugby to which the opposition had no answer.

It was gratifying that there were three changes to the team and the newcomers slotted in perfectly and thus gives the coach, Jim Henderson some selection problems.

Elsewhere, results fell Whitecraigs’s way, as Hawick YM lost and slipped back to third place leaving 'Craigs five points clear at the top.

This Saturday is a home match against Strathmore and the team will look to continue on their winning ways.

As half time approached Smylie picked up his second try and a score from blood replacement Nick Blamire put ‘Craigs 29-7 up at the interval.
And they were out of sight just after the break when Smylie completed his hat-trick.
Captain Ryan Moffat then added a try of his own before new boy Stuart Pollock smashed his way over the whitewash as well.

But the pick of the touchdowns was saved until last when playmaker Ally Little danced his way through the opposition to score a magnificent solo effort.

After the fantastic eight try display and convincing 55-7 victory head coach Jim Henderson was delighted by the result.

He said: “I said weeks ago that we would learn how to play in this division – and we have. “The best compliment was coming off the park when the Madras coach said that we were just too strong for them. “We really are starting to click now. “We always need more players though and I’m looking for local boys to come down and start playing here.”

Team: McCormack, B. Blamire, Laidlaw, H. Hunter, McKelvie, Pollock, Smylie, K. Hunter, Henderson, Little, Johnston, Moffat, Hutton, Stevenson, Fisher. Subs – Campbell, N. Blamire, Farrell.