Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Wanderers go down to high-flyers

Friday, 9th January, 2009

Published: Monday, 17th December, 2007 12:30

Wanderers go down to high-flyers

Wanderers 14, Falkirk 36

Greenock Wanderers produced a performance full of guts, enthusiasm and no little ability on Saturday as they faced up to top of the table Falkirk at Fort Matilda.

The final score line underlined the fact Falkirk are worthy leaders and likely champions, but also highlighted that the locals can compete with the best in the division and have a young side that is heading in the right direction.

The match was a cracker and was full of fast-flowing rugby, mainly from the visitors, but Wanderers held their own and had plenty of highlights to look back on in an 80 minutes that thoroughly entertained the crowd.

With half-time beckoning, and a fighting performance to be proud of, the locals were dealt the sucker punch from a catch and drive at a lineout close to the Wanderers line.

When the bodies had cleared, veteran Falkirk second row Bill Faulds had the ball in his hands. McKenzie obliged again from the tee and Falkirk led 26-7 at half-time.

The feared second half collapse didn’t materialise and Wanderers played some of their best rugby of the season as they battled hard to get back into the game.

Every player put in a rousing performance and, up front, Calum Robb, Neil Patterson and Mark Coyle all led by example in a hungry pack that gave as good as it got.

Andy McDougall and Ant Devlin struck a fine partnership at half-back and the back line ran with purpose and tackled with fervour.

Stewart McTavish and Jason Smith, in particular, were hungry for action. After the game, president Donnie Cunningham said: “We obviously aren’t celebrating a defeat but we are pleased with today’s performance and I thought we really stuck at it and got some reward for all our efforts.”

Team: S McTavish, A Knox, C Clark [C], J Smith, A Devlin, A McDougall, M Coyle, R Lavelle, M Rodger, L Scully, N Patterson, J McKenna, C Robb, D Clayton. Replacements J Campbell, N Wright, J Stewart.

l Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.

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