Five star Lochaber cruise to victory
Lochaber
Isle of Mull
BT West Division 3
LOCHABER cruised to a 22-point victory over Mull on Saturday after an imperious performance saw them score five tries past their west coast rivals.
After the last meeting between these sides ended with a controversial refereeing decision to end the match early, the two teams were eager to get another shot at each other.
Mull were confident coming into this game as they had added a few dual registered Oban first team players into their squad since their match was cancelled. Oban play two leagues above Lochaber and Mull so the new recruits brought added quality.
Mull opened the scoring with a penalty after being unable to find a way through the home side’s defence after several minutes of pressure. Lochaber responded not long after with a penalty of their own, with Scotty Diack kicking the points.
Soon after that kick, Lochaber got their first try of the game. Fly-half Scotty Diack made a darting run through Mull’s defensive line and, anticipating a tackle from the Mull winger, he threw a blind pass out the back door to winger Peter Carmichael who was charging up the wing. Carmichael ran the ball in for his first try for Lochaber since making the switch from shinty this season having never previously played rugby.
Lochaber had the edge in set plays, constantly upsetting Mull’s lineouts. Even in the scrum, the home side competed well with Mull’s scrum, with Lochaber’s scrum half and man of the match Calum Sanderson exerting constant pressure on his opposite number.
Lochaber got their second try of the afternoon when Christopher Simpson cut his way through Mull’s defence before off-loading the ball to John MacKerlich who fought his way over the line.
After the half-time break, Mull responded with a try of their own to narrow the gap. This seemed to fire Lochaber up as they went in search of another try.
Just as Mull looked to turn the ball over, Lochaber got the ball to deck and Simpson made another scything run through Mull’s defence, this time getting the try himself, with Diack converting the kick.
Lochaber were starting to look the more dominate team in the final stages of the game as Mull couldn’t find away through Lochaber’s defence, while the home side were having lots of joy with the ball in hand.
Lochaber’s fourth try and bonus point came after Simpson caught a bullet pass from Calum MacLachlan not intended for him as he came into the attacking line and, being only five metres out, cantered over the line.
The home side’s final try came after Conor Taylor made a break up the left wing and off-loaded the ball to Callum Boyd who in turn off-loaded the ball to Sandison.
It looked like Sandison was about to be tackled back into touch but he got his hands free and got the ball back in field. The ball went to deck and was kicked through into Mull’s try area with Taylor reacting fastest, diving for the ball to touch down just in front of a Mull defender.
The final whistle blew, with Lochaber the clear victors.
Stand-in Mull captain Craig O’Donnell congratulated the Lochaber performance.
He said: ‘It was a tough game today but there is lots to take away from it. Thanks to the boys from Oban for helping out today and congratulations to Lochaber.
‘We’d like to thank them for a good fair game and some fantastic hospitality.’
Lochaber now have a week off before playing four away games in a row starting off with a trip to play Cowal RFC on Saturday March 3 in Dunoon.