Ten out of 10 for dominant Lochaber
Lochaber 38 Isle of Mull 16
Lochaber continued their winning start to the season after a resounding victory against west coast rivals Mull on Saturday, meaning they are now the only team in West Regional Division 3 with a maximum points tally of 10 points from the opening two matches.
In what was their first home match of the season, Lochaber put in an impressive performance to exact revenge on Mull after the island side knocked them out of the regional bowl competition last month.
The home side started strongly and it wasn’t long until vice captain Jonathan McCook burst through Mull’s defence to score Lochaber’s first try of the day, which he duly converted.
Lochaber’s scrum was working well again and they were able to dominate the visitor’s scrum. However, some indiscipline let Mull get on the scoreboard with their captain, Sean Black, kicking a penalty for three points.
Lochaber rallied and were the next to score when Mull were unable to stop Conor Taylor from close range in the corner. Mull clawed back another three points from the boot to make it 12-6. Taylor then scored his second try of the game when he stretched for the line dotting down next to the posts for an easy conversion for McCook.
The physical nature of the match began to take its toll on the Mull players as several were lost to injury towards the end of the first half.
Lochaber were then able to take advantage of the overlap when some quick hands put Koni Johnson free on the right wing. Johnson, left with a lot of ground to cover, used his pace to sprint clear of the scrambling defence and ran in for a 50m try – his first for the club.
But Mull were not beaten and after a loose scrum Black received the ball at 10 metres and with some quick foot work he stepped the tackle and was free to score under the posts.
With the score at 26-11 at half-time, Lochaber came flying out the traps in the second half, keen to cement the victory. Just a few minutes after the kick-off Lochaber were in again this time with Findlay Ireland crossing the line and McCook converting. Soon after, winger and man-of-thematch Johnson touched down for his second try of the day after he stretched to get his fingertips on to a tricky wide pass which almost took him out of play but he readjusted his footing and ran in to score in the corner, much to the delight of the supporters on the hill above him.
Mull did manage to get their second try and once again it was their captain Sean Black at the centre of the play, this time turning creator as he set up a winger to touch down in the corner.
The game ended on the 66th minute when injuries got the better of Mull who were reduced to 11 players after a late injury.