Lasswade Power Overcomes Perthshire

Perthshire 20 – 49 Lasswade

Alan Clark’s team secure try bonus point in defeat to quality opposition.

The sun shone and day was set up for some exciting rugby, following on from the Perthshire Rugby Club Day, it was great to see such support on the touchlines for the 1XV & 2XV matches; and the crowds on the North Inch were not disappointed by the quality of rugby on display.

From the off this was an intensely physical and quick paced affair. Perthshire received the kick-off but fumbled the ball, so immediately were on the backfoot. The defence held and leading from the front Mat Rae won a turnover to relieve the pressure. Perthshire managed to break out down the right wing before working to the other side where a stretched Lasswade conceded a penalty around halfway.

Perthshire patiently worked through the phases as Lasswade gave away nothing in defence. Then using his power James Armstrong took a wide ball to work up into the 22. A series of quick rucks followed and Armstrong was there to finish the move with a carry from the base of the ruck to surge over the line for an unconverted try.

Restarts would beleaguer Perthshire all day and again they dropped this one. However, with the ferocious tackling and work on the ground neither team could gain an advantage as both sides exchanged attacks & turnovers without escaping the 10m lines.

Referee, JP Doyle, who was previously officiated at the Rugby World Cup, Six Nations and Heineken Cup was being fair on the whistle but Perthshire were guilty of slowing the ball down illegally. Lasswade opted to go for the posts, but missed. Jay Pettie took the ball and rather than touch down for the drop out, he ran out of his 22 before kicking ahead. In retreat, Lasswade were disorganised allowing Calum Chalmers to steal the ball around halfway. On the counter Perthshire were maybe too keen and Jonny Armitt’s next kick through returned the ball to Lasswade who made no mistake this time and powered down to the ‘Shire line. This was repelled by another stunning turnover from the back row and booted clear.Lasswade started to benefit from penalties at keenly contested rucks and stayed on the front foot. Awarded a scrum 30m out their luck held and they sent an up & under into 22 where there was no defender allowing the onrushing centre a simple catch and run in to score.

Perthshire struck back quickly securing the restart. Aidan Watson at 10, identified a mismatch and skipped round the defender to sprint downfield. Hauled down short the ball was fired out to the right wing where Jay Pettie used his speed and the remaining centimetres of the pitch to evade the tackles and squeeze over a try in the corner. Aidan Watson missed the conversion making the score 10-7.

This was an energetic half and still the action came. Hits were hard and resolve was strong, no team backed down. In particular the back rowers Kieran Ramsay, Calum Chalmers and James Mair were devastating in attack and defence. Meanwhile James Armstrong was working well with centre partner Mat Rae to cause all sorts of trouble in the wider channels.

The next to score were Lasswade, the ball spurt out from a ruck and the Midlothian men were quickest to react, kicking it through and diving over before the ‘Shire cover could get there. Converting the try they took the lead, 10-14.

Perthshire gave Lasswade too much space at the restart and after a quick ruck, their prop somehow found a clear park in front of him and charged near 20m before getting stopped. In behind, the retreating cover were unable to stop Lasswade who used quick hands and pace for a flowing move to extend their new lead with a converted try in the corner.

The lively action continued, the large crowd could hear and feels the hits, Kyle MacKinnon chief amongst the Black & White shirts battering his opponents. The temperature rose on the pitch as Lasswade illegally tipped James Armstrong upside down in a ruck clear out. The penalty went to the corner, lineout secured but the waves of attack were pushed back. It was the final play and Perthshire stilled endeavoured forward. James Armstrong & Kieran Ramsay fed off each other’s power crashing forward on short balls until Ramsay surged over the whitewash. With the kick again wide, it stood 15-21 at halftime.

Lasswade are a quality outfit and must be aiming to top the league this year. Head Coach Alan Clark asked for more of the same in the second half, could Perthshire maintain the intensity and discipline to see out the match?

The first 10 minutes were all Lasswade. Slowly but effectively they ramped up the pressure and creeped towards the ‘Shire line. No matter the outstanding efforts in defence, Lasswade were irrepressible eventually pushing forward to score against the base of the post. Minutes later they were back under the sticks following some soft hands and fast feet outfoxing ‘Shire to build a commanding 15-35 lead.

The replacements came on and made an impact, Jack McIntosh at scrumhalf took over from Andrew Sanderson who impressed on his 1XV debut in the 9 shirt, but was maybe not up to speed when he was caught at the base of the scrum and split the ball. Lasswade took advantage to quickly snaffle it, ship it wide and a series of 3 offloads saw them cross the line.

It wasn’t over and Mat Rae, who’s growing well into the role of Captain, rallied his players. Jack McIntosh started the counter with a scintillating break from his own half and was just caught with 10m to go. Matt Jenns hot on his heels brilliantly secured the ruck and quick ball was sent to the corner where Ross Goodison was rebuffed with inches to go. Lasswade had infringed, the penalty was taken quickly and after 2 phases Angus Walker, capped off his fine performance, burrowing over for a try. This bonus point try also went unconverted.

The final minutes ticked on with both teams clearly running on empty. Lasswade sneaked another score before the final whistle. What a performance, in a quality match that took everything out of the players to end 20-49.

Perthshire secured their first points of the league and have improved again. Alan Clark has an improving squad and though bruised and battered most players came out of the battle with Lasswade fit for next week’s challenge, the long away trip to Berwick.

This performance was buoyed by the 2XV who recovered from a slow start to better Strathmore 2XV, winning 40-17. The full report “Fun in the Sun on the North Inch” can be read on the 2XV page.

Photos taken by Peter Wilkinson & Heather Kirkman.