End of season game is a gripping affair
Bannockburn brought the curtain down on a long season with the annual Captain’s v President’s match last Saturday at Bluebellwood.
Joining this year’s squad were a few lads from neighbours Alloa, Bo’ness and Stirling County and several players from the past including Stuart Hugh, now at GHK, Kevin Dudgeon (Harris FP) and Fraser Adair, Fraser Dunbar and Peter Hamilton from the team that won the Midlands Championship in season 2000/01.
After a keenly fought first five minutes it was Dudgeon who opened the scoring for President Kevin McCormack’s side, powering himself over the line after a series of driving runs from the forwards. Youngest player on the field Dylan Letford missed the conversion.
Captain Mark Wetton’s side took the lead when Young Player of The Year Sean Webb cleverly spotted space and gathered his own chip ahead to score near the posts. Wetton added the extras.
The lead was shortlived as the President’s XV responded with the best move of the game with the ball passing through several sets of hands before right-wing Tony Vines ran the final 40 metres and dot down under the posts.
Grangemouth’s Gordon Crossan took over the kicking duties to make the score 12-7.
Another try before the interval from Nick Wales, converted by Crossan made the interval score 19-7.
The younger Captain’s side started the second period strongly and soon had the scores level.
Firstly Wetton held the ball up in midfield before releasing centre Marc Murray for a storming run to the line.
Next a loose ball on the President’s 22 was hacked on by hooker Gavin Millar who pounced on the ball for the try. Wetton added the conversion.
At this point it looked like the Captain’s XV would go on to win, but McCormack freshened up his pack brining on Fraser Dunbar, Paul Millar and Euan Normansell to help prevent any further damage.
Things remained level until four minutes to go when Vines again found space out on his wing and ran home from 30 metres with Crossan adding his third conversion to complete the scoring.
Training during the summer in the form of touch rugby will continue. Check the club’s Facebook site for details.