GREENOCK Wanderers recorded their first win of the season by 'thrashing' Murrayfield Wanderers at Fort Matilda.
Okay, this is a slight exaggeration with the final score being 41-40 but the noise which greeted this hard fought victory said it all.
A ding-dong, end-to-end thriller it came down to the last kick of the ball, with Jack McDaid the local hero converting to give Greenock the spoils.
The match got off to a bad start for the home side as it took only two minutes for Murrayfield to score a try through their forwards to put the first five points on the board.
But gritty Greenock quickly responded with a similar score by forward Graham, which was converted by McDaid, allowing them to take a slender 7-5 lead.
More pressure by Wanderers' forwards saw the ball reaching centre Tyley to score, followed by another fine conversion by McDaid from the touch line, giving the home side 14-5 cushion.
However, Greenock gave away two penalties shortly afterwards with Murrayfield converting both to tighten the score line again at 14-11.
Play continued to flow freely from end-to-end with Wanderers having more of territory than the visitors which was rewarded with a further try for Robb in the 28th minute to make it 19-11.
Shortly before half-time Murrayfield were camped on Wanderers' line and they finally breached a stubborn home defence to haul themselves within three points of the Fort Matilda men at 19-16.
Murrayfield's momentum continued in the second half and they were first on the scoreboard with a soft try, with their number eight running through a number of would-be Wanderers tacklers and they were back in the lead at 19-21.
Wanderers' resolve was admirable and they responded just two minutes later to pull in front again at 24-21.
But Murrayfield scored two quick tries through their backs and forwards to take a large leap into the lead at 24-35.
Their prop was thereafter yellow carded, giving Wanderers an opportunity to reduce the deficit, which they duly grasped with both hands and McDaid touched down to make the score 31-35 and set up a grandstand finish.
But again Murrayfield scored the next try to pull further clear at 31-40.
Wanderers were not finished, though, and it was McDaid again who barged over after some good work from the backs to make it 38-40 with three minutes left on the clock.
It didn't look as though Wanderers were making much territory in the visitors half thereafter, but a break from the backs led to the most precious of penalties and up stepped McDaid from far out on the visitors 22. He struck the ball beautifully, sending a perfect kick sailing through the posts to win the match for Wanderers.
A good game from the home side, certainly not perfect and the penalty count against them was high.
However, the victory moves them off the bottom of the table and they look forward with some confidence to their next match.
The Wanders women made the trip to table-toppers Ayr and played well, however, the came away with a 36-15 defeat.
Club sponsors MMSEARCH
Women's sponsors Straps of Gourock.
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