Makeshift Mid Argyll lose at Lochaber
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Mid Argyll RFC travelled to local rivals Lochaber last Saturday still looking for a first win – but the club had more than 20 players unavailable.
The outing offered some players their senior debuts; Ally MacInnes, Harris Campbell, Finlay Kerr, Kieran McCullough and Kyle Colville pulled on the amber and black for the first time.
For others it was a return to action, most notably club president Jim Hill, who pulled on his boots for a competitive league fixture for the first time in over a decade.
A squad of 17 made the journey north determined to get that elusive first win of the season.
Man of the match Liam Long makes another crunching tackle.
While Mid Argyll took time to re-adjust, Lochaber took advantage and again crossed the whitewash. Despite a mammoth effort from the Argyll team, they couldn’t get a foot in the game.
Half time came after Lochaber had crossed twice more, with the half time score at 35-0.
A regroup and restructure during half time saw a different Mid Argyll team take to the pitch.
For the next 20 minutes the encounter became a physical tussle and the Boars looked the more likely to score. Again, the lack of numbers proved the difference as Lochaber rolled on the replacements.
Mid Argyll brought on McCullough and for a while the pack held up. A high ball over the Mid Argyll defence saw winger Liam Long charge back to scoop the ball from the ground with one hand as his Lochaber opposite number bore down on him.
A deft touch and smooth pop pass to the on-rushing Campbell opened space for a 50-metre charge up field.
When it looked like Campbell was through, a last-ditch effort from the home defence caught him - and that proved to be the highlight of the day for the visitors.
Lochaber went on to score another three tries.
Next week Mid Argyll host Moffat in Lochgilphead, with a 3pm KO.