Mid Argyll RFC – 27 Glasgow University Medics – 15
West Division 3
Glasgow University Medics travelled to Lochgilphead last Saturday to take on a Boars team still riding high on the previous week’s first win of the season.
With another full squad, Mid Argyll were looking forward to this encounter to try and build on that all-important first win.
Another big home support watched the visitors start the game by kicking to a waiting Boars defence, who started strongly and dominated the early exchanges.
Despite the Medics’ best efforts they couldn’t keep out the determined Boars.
This week it was the home side opening the scoring when the impressive Kyle Colville burst through the visiting defence to score his first try of the season.
Murray MacDonald stepped up and added the extra two from the conversion. This put the Boars in the driving seat – but from the restart the Medics reminded the home team that they were going to have to work hard to take anything from the game.
Within five minutes of the opening try, the visitors got one of their own but couldn’t add the extras with the boot.
Some good pressure from Mid Argyll soon led to a penalty for the home side and they chose to kick for goal.
MacDonald stepped up but pulled the kick just wide. This drove Mid Argyll on and they really took the game to the Medics.
The pressure soon paid off when a good phase of play down the left wing resulted in Daniel Broderick crossing for the Boars’ second of the day.
This time MacDonald hit the post with his conversion attempt.
A great defensive effort from the Boars when the Medics looked certain to score saw Murray Sutherland emerge with the ball, and despite every effort from the visitors the second row was unstoppable as he powered his way out of the 22 towards the halfway line, setting up yet another powerful attack for the Mid Argyll backs.
Leading up to half time the Medics came back into it and only another great defensive set from the Boars, again led by Sutherland, ensured Mid Argyll kept their lead and when the ref blew for the break, the home side led 12 – 5.
Mid Argyll kicked off the second half and found the visitors really fired up as they caught the Boars by surprise and scored a quick try.
Again they failed to add the extras.
Good possession kicking from the Boars’ fly half Coll MacKay saw Mid Argyll pin the visitors in their own half and allowed the Boars to create attacking phase after phase.
The front row of Broderick, Robbie Herd and David MacArthur were making the game very difficult for the Medics’ pack and it wasn’t long before MacArthur took advantage of the pressure and crossed for his fifth try of the season.
Again MacDonald was unsuccessful from the boot but Mid Argyll were stretching their lead.
The Medics restarted and Sutherland gathered, releasing MacDonald, who spread the ball through centres Matt Peden and Simon Morrison to wing powerhouse Ben Smith.
Smith ran 40 yards up field dodging defenders before being brought down in the visitor’s half with the Boars now in a great attacking position.
The ball was delivered back to Peden and as he continued the move the ball hit a defender and bounced away for MacDonald to scoop up and run towards the line.
MacDonald was tackled at the last moment, but as the ball bounced between defender and attacker, MacDonald reacted quickest and pounced on the loose ball, the ref waved play on and MacDonald touched down for Mid Argyll’s fourth of the day.
MacDonald added the extra two with huge cheers from the home support.
The home team were now looking to put this game out of reach and, following a great piece of counter rucking from openside flanker Gordon McLean, a penalty was awarded.
Captain Stuart Charnock pointed for the posts and, now he had found his kicking boots, MacDonald slotted the ball over for three points.
With 10 minutes to go the visitors added a try of their own, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Boars a second successive and much-deserved home win.
It was difficult to choose a man of the match with great performances from Sutherland, Broderick, Smith, Herd, The MacArthur brothers and MacDonald but McLean took it with a dominant display of rucking and counter rucking.
Once again everyone at the club would like to thank Argyll and Bute Council’s grounds men and the Stag Hotel for the after-match hospitality.
Next week the Boars travel to Irvine for a 2pm KO.
Mid Argyll move up to seventh in the table, above Lanark/Clydesdale, Hyndland and Mull RFC.