homeaboutteamsfixturesnewseventsgalleriesshopsponsorslinksforum

Match Report - Wigtownshire 11 - Moffat 12

Published on 23 January 2007 at 12:56:00

 

Last Saturday the Rams made the long trip to Stranraer to take on post Christmas promotion group leaders Wigtownshire.

Minus a few regulars in the shape of Gemmell, Lockhart and Jefferson who were away on holiday the Rams had a reshuffled look. On the bright side they welcomed back Polly Smith from his long injury wearing the number 7 shirt. They reintroduced Andrew Wallace at inside centre and gave a starting place for 16 year old debutant Mark Clark at scrum half. The versatile, all round footballer Clint Smith covered for Lockhart at 10 and Zola Dinwoodie moved from scrum half to the full back role. Dave Scott and Calum Jardine patrolled the wings.

With the tight forwards of Little, Galloway, Currie, Tyler and McDowall unchanged the back row was made up of Carter, Wennington and the returning Polly Smith. Stewart Renwick moved to the bench to accommodate Smith and he was joined by Bob Drennan, and Ian Watson.

The game started with the Rams playing into a howling diagonal gale supplemented by an almost constant rainstorm. This was never going to be a classic but both sides served up an exciting if tousy match. With the Rams tackling man and ball in sterling fashion it took the home team some time to settle. Moffat took the early exchanges with great defensive skill and solid tackling kept the few Wigtownshire attacks at bay.

The home team eventually broke their duck when their stand off slotted a penalty. Kevin Jack then replied with a superb penalty into the teeth of the gale to bring things back to level. Just as it looked the Rams effort would be rewarded Wigtownshire scored a late disputed try in the corner. With the conversion going astray the score at half time was close at 8-3.

With the wind making flowing, running rugby nigh impossible the Rams took advantage of the breeze and immediately pressurised Wigtownshire. Kevin Jack kicked another penalty to close the gap to 2 points. Not to be outdone they responded immediately and a rare Rams indiscretion allowed Shire to extend their lead yet again to 11-6.

Playing with a discipline and resilience which are the hallmark of this young Moffat team they came back yet again with controlled, aggressive smart rugby pegging their opponents into their 22. Mistakes would surely come from this pressure and the patience paid off when yet another penalty gave Kevin Jack the chance for his hat trick. He duly obliged to close the gap to 2 points yet again. Game on.

By now the Rams could smell a rare victory. Very few teams over the years came to Galloway and left with a win and the Moffat lads were going to join that small elite band. With about 10 minutes to go extreme pressure on the Shire defence caused yet another indiscretion and yet again Jack was up to the task and stuck away the penalty giving the Rams the slenderest of leads.

With time running out the Shire had a player red carded in the dying moments but this didn't affect the result. At the final whistle the Rams had claimed an historic victory which puts them right into the promotion race.

On a day when all eighteen players to a man played their part it would be unfair to highlight individual performances. The tackle count, the controlled rugby played, and the rugby expertise displayed in awful conditions are a credit to them all. However a special wee mention must go to the 16 year old debutant Mark Clark who played with a high degree of skill and a maturity far in excess of his years.

Squad v Wigtownshire

Dinwoodie; Jardine; Jack; Wallace; Scott; C Smith; Clark; Little; Galloway; Currie; Tyler; McDowall; Carter; P Smith; Wennington; Drennan; Renwick and Watson.