Green Machine lose to Irvine
OBAN Lorne made the trip to North Ayrshire on Saturday to take on fellow league strugglers Irvine RFC. Both teams have failed to find any positive form in the league this season and went into Saturday’s match occupying 10th and 11th places respectively in the league.
A strong Oban squad were looking for a much-needed win to close the gap to Cambuslang and Irvine above them. Oban’s performances have improved in recent weeks with a 64-15 win over bottom-placed Helensburgh and a spirited 34-7 loss to league leaders Carrick.
Despite having a strong squad for Saturday’s match, Oban went down 47-19 against a determined home side. Oban’s efforts in the game were not aided with an exceptionally high number of injuries meaning the men in green even had to close out the game with reduced numbers despite having a full bench of replacements. Included on Saturday’s injury list were Jamie Bate and Lorne MacLachlan, who are likely to miss the rest of the season, along with more minor injuries to Tommy Sutherland, Connor Kerr, Jack Strachan, Connor Ferris and scrum-half Chris Yuill, who was playing his first game for the club.
Although the end result was a heavy scoreline, the game itself was a mainly even contest with Irvine having to fight hard for every point they gained. Oban attacked well at times and were rewarded with tries from second row Jack Baxter, winger Calum MacLachlan and captain Craig Wright.
Saturday’s loss now means that Oban sit eight points adrift of safety in the league but have two games in hand against Cambuslang above them. The task does not get any easier for Oban Lorne this Saturday as they travel to face third-placed Garnock RFC. Garnock won a tough game 26-19 at Glencruitten in the first game of the 2017/2018 season.
BT Women’s National Bowl final
Oban Lorne will be running a supporters’ bus to the BT National Women’s Bowl final on Saturday April 28 where Oban Lorne Ladies will be taking on Garioch RFC.
More details on plans for the final can be found on the club’s Facebook page, website and on Scottish Rugby’s webpages.