Hyndland RFC 10
Lochaber RFC 19
West Division 3
Lochaber set out to return to winning ways following the previous week’s chastening home defeat to league leaders Birkmyre.
Heading to Glasgow with a squad of 21 players to face Hyndland gave the team that chance.
Facing a brisk easterly wind in the first half, Lochaber made a strong start. Great pressure from the kick-off saw Hyndland lose control of the ball on their 22-metre line, which was gleefully scooped up by the away team.
A series of drives at the defensive line saw Hamish White crash over to open the scoring within the first minute.
Hyndland used the wind to their advantage to pin Lochaber back in their own half, with sustained pressure leading to a penalty for the home team, which was converted.
Lochaber stretched their lead when Chris Simpson raced clear from the home defence before offloading to Finlay Stewart on a great support line.
Scrum half Calum Sandison offered support again and dived over the line for the score. Ryan Davies added the conversion to stretch the lead to 12-3.
Hyndland, however, continued to profit from the territory gained by the wind at their back. The gap was narrowed when one of the home centres burst through some weak Lochaber tackling to score under the posts. Conversion added.
Lochaber had one more great chance before half time, when dominant scrummaging gave the backs space to unleash one of their pre-planned moves.
Wing Stuart Hinchcliffe appeared to have dotted down to extend the lead, but the try was chalked off. Half-time score: 12-10.
With the wind at their backs in the second half, Lochaber looked to put the game away.
What followed was a frustrating contest that took place almost exclusively between the 22 metre lines. The proliferation of scrums, which must have numbered into the 20s, saw the game grind to a halt, with handling errors from both sides killing any momentum.
A break from Simpson following a quickly-tapped penalty saw the hosts reduced to 14 men for ten minutes after his process was halted by a deliberate trip from a Hyndland second row.
Lochaber, however, could not profit from their numerical advantage and the stalemate in the centre of the pitch continued.
The visitors finally extended their lead when the quick thinking Simpson broke clear from a tapped penalty and scored under the posts with the conversion added.
Seeking the fourth try that would give them the bonus point, Lochaber dominated possession but could not find a way through the hosts.
The much-improved performance from the Banavie men in attack and defence should bring confidence.
After a morale boosting win, Lochaber remain third in the table and host second-placed Moffat this Saturday, November 4, at Banavie. Kick-off 2pm.