GIVE THE GRANGE A HARD TIME

Blairgowrie took the positives from a 33-3 away defeat by undefeated title contenders Grangemouth on Saturday.

In wet and windy conditions, the visitors chalked up the first score of the afternoon through a successful Stephen Souter penalty.

The three points were the result of a high tackle on Neil MacRae in the home side’s 22, sparked by a turnover at a Grangemouth scrum following good work by Ryan Walker, Jordan Lynn and Dave Malloch in the Blair front row.

The hosts kicked off once again and applied pressure, only to be denied by some tremendous tackling from Blairgowrie – particularly from Fraser Bissett and John McLaren.

Blair’s discipline was called into question and Grangemouth equalised when a penalty was conceded after a visiting player entered a ruck off his feet.

A good darting run by Fraser Maxwell, followed up by great support play from Mattey Michie, had Blair going forward nicely until a bit of loose play saw the ball eventually kicked out by Grangemouth.

The lineout was cleanly won by Fin Ormiston and carried forward by Black into the 22. Souter saw space open up in front and dinked it through only to be outdone by the deadball line.

Blair coped well with the mauling forwards off the back of a Grangemouth lineout on the visitors’ five-metre line, only for a scrum to be awarded which was controlled by the heavy home pack and pushed over for a converted try.

A second try was conceded when Blair again found themselves on their five-metre line with a Grangemouth scrum and put in.

The home number eight was given the job of touching down as the ball was driven over the line, despite the best efforts of a determined Blairgowrie defence.

With the score 15-3 in favour of Grangemouth at the break, the first points of the second period came via a wind-assisted penalty awarded after a high Blair tackle.

Grangemouth then proceeded to steal a lineout and apply the pressure to score their third try of the day.

With 55 minutes gone a deliberate knockon by McOuat saw him yellow carded and, with the already over-powered scrum now down to seven, Grangemouth again pushed over for try number four.

At this point Blair’s troops rallied and some great crash balls from Ormiston and Black saw the men from JJ Coupar Recreation Park once again making inroads into the opposition’s half.

Al Guild, Regan Gordon and Cammy Gray came on for Malloch, Walsh and Lynn as Blair – now back up to the full 15 – set out to play more positive rugby.

A couple of penalties saw Blairgowrie progress up the pitch only for a mix-up at a lineout to result in the chance being lost.

A blood injury saw Walsh come back on for McOuat. Helyer and Michie came on for Bissett and McLaren.

Blair camped themselves out in the Grangemouth half but couldn’t find their way through a tough defence.

Grangemouth added to their tally in the closing stages with another successful penalty, this time conceded as a result of Blair handling in the ruck.

Squad: S Souter, R Grant, F Bissett, F Maxwell, J McLaren, M Davidson, R Edwards, R Walker, J Lynn, D Malloch, A Walsh, A McOuat, N MacRae, F Ormiston, F Black, M Grant, T Helyer, M Michie, M Grant, C Gray, A Guild, S Grant.

Points: S Souter (3); N MacRae (2); D Malloch, J Lynn, R Walker, A Guild, C Gray. Top tackler: F Bissett.

Training continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7pm.

Blair host Hillfoots on Saturday. Kick-off 3pm.