Game held up for 20 minutes after serious knee injury to Argyll and Bute player

ARGYLL and Bute RFC played their second league game of the season on Saturday away to West Division 4 leaders Police Scotland RFC.

Argyll boasted a squad of 21 players including mostly Oban Lorne second XV players, four players from Mid Argyll and a player from Kintyre.

The hosts made a good start to the game on the artificial surface at Lochinch Park and found themselves 14- 0 up early on with some very poor defence from a young Argyll team.

Argyll did not let this knock their confidence as they hit back with a try of their own. Alex Lawson’s inside ball found scrum half Allan Wright who broke free from the 22 to score beneath the posts. Niall MacFarlane’s conversions narrowed the score to 14-7.

With Argyll starting to come into the game the hosts were looking nervous in possession and were starting to make some unforced errors. Just as it looked like Argyll would be in for another try the team were dealt a huge blow when Centre Colin MacKenzie was taken down injured after a good break down the left touchline. Due to the seriousness of MacKenzie’s knee injury, play was stopped for 20 minutes for the emergency services to arrive. Argyll and Bute RFC wish Colin well in his recovery from knee surgery that took place over the weekend.

James Beckett of Mid Argyll replaced the injured player at Outside Centre. Argyll struggled to get out of their own half for the rest of the half and were undone with a poor lineout and a frustrating amount of penalties given away.

Argyll did well to defend in their own 22 for over 15 minutes before Police Scotland managed to score their third try of the day on halftime. Score 19-7.

Argyll were happy with their efforts at half time despite losing and were hoping to score first into the second half to narrow the game.

Argyll’s hopes were short-lived as the hosts ran in for an early second half try to put the game beyond doubt. As Argyll tired the hosts ran in three further tries to give a score of 45-7.

Argyll and Bute did have the best of the last 10 minutes and went close to scoring through replacement Rory Tait and Number 8 Neil Rimmer.

Aside from losing the game Argyll were happy with the overall performance against a side who have scored at least 50 points in each game this season.

Argyll and Bute are away to Cowal RFC this weekend in an Argyll derby. Kick off is 2pm in Dunoon.

Argyll Team: D. Broderick, D. Miller, C. Ferris, K. Graham, M. Charlton, V. Mihov, C. McGuire, N. Rimmer, A. Wright, A. Lawson, R. Morrison, D. McLaughlin, C. MacKkenzie, C. Smith, N. MacFarlane.

H. Duncan, R. Tait, J. Beckett, S. Lyth, K. Martin