Lorne prove too strong for visitors
Oban Lorne 47 Helensburgh 19
Tennent’s West Division 2
Last weekend Oban Lorne welcomed Bishopton to Glencruitten for the penultimate home game of the season in West Division 2.
With the vote in last week’s regional meeting meaning Oban will stay in Division 2 next season the Green Machine were looking to secure another home win to end what has been a fantastic season for the men in green.
In difficult conditions, due to the heavy rain that came in last week, Oban started brightly but took almost 15 minutes to get on the score sheet as the travelling Bishopton team were defending well.
When the breakthrough did come it was Calum Maclachlan who led the way with one of his trademark charges through the opposition defence to score next to the posts and leave an easy conversion for Finlay Carmichael to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.
Oban were playing well and linking well between forwards and backs when the ball was spun wide to Fergus McCoss, who was playing at fullback. He kicked ahead and regathered the ball to score in the corner to extend Oban’s lead to 12 points. Carmichael was just off target with the conversion.
The next Oban try was outstanding when from a lineout in the opposition 22 the Oban pack drove deep towards the opposition line before launching Calum Maclachlan off the back. He broke the first line of defence and then lost his balance and as he was falling managed to offload the ball to the supporting Stanley Lister. The hooker caught the pass and crashed over the line to cap another fantastic performance of what has been a great season for the gold miner. Carmichael converted the extras for Oban to lead 19-0.
Powerful running
Calum Maclachlan was causing the Bishopton defence all sorts of problems with his powerful running and it was not long before he crossed the try line again. This time he broke a tackle in the middle of the park and then ran through and around another couple of attempted tacklers to score next to the post. Carmichael was on target again with the conversion to extend Oban’s lead to 26-0.
With only 25 minutes or so played and with the bonus point already in the bag, Oban relaxed and put on one of their best performances of the season, controlling most facets of the game and playing with great composure to keep the pressure on the opposition.
Fergus McCoss was to score his second of the afternoon after more great link play between the forwards and backs. From a lineout the Oban pack attacked into the midfield before bringing the ball back to the touchline for the fullback to score in the corner again. It was a wellworked move and something that has been practised so much in training it was nice to see it coming off in the game. Oban 31 Bishopton 0.
If that was a good try the next one was even better; the rampant Oban pack taking the ball to Bishopton before a couple of quick rucks released the backs and Owen Mcdonald, the big number 8, latched on to a great pass to score another fantastic team try converted by Carmichael to put Oban into a 39-0 halftime lead.
Fergus McCoss scored his first hat-trick for the club when he cut a great line and then used his impressive footwork to get round the despairing Bishopton defence to score wide out. This extended the Oban lead to 43 points.
Oban were stung when scrum half Vasil Borisov was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes for striking an opponent in the face. This penalty and a further couple of needless penalties for offside pushed Oban deep into their 22. When the Oban defence got on the back foot it allowed the Bishopton attack with forward ball and they crossed the Oban line for a well-deserved try. Credit must go to the visitors who continued to try and play their way back into the game but they just could not get enough ball to trouble the Oban line again.
Oban weathered the storm of being a man down by moving James Divers into number nine, a position he has played a number of times this season,
Big Calum Maclachlan was to get his hat-trick try for the day when another barnstorming run down the wing saw him go round and through the despairing Bishopton defence to extend Oban’s lead to 48 points.
He was soon to get his fourth try of the day. From a lineout deep in the visitors 22, the Oban packed drove the lineout and rumbled round the corner for Maclachlan to score his seventh try in two games since his return from injury. Oban 53 Bishopton 5
Fergus McCoss was not to be outdone though as he too was to score a fourth try of the day when he chased a perfect kick through from Finlay Carmichael to dive full length and touch the ball down right in the corner of the dead ball area.
It was another fantastic try for the fullback. 58-5
Fantastic
Coach Johnston emptied the bench with 10 minutes to go with the U18 game being called off due to weather in the morning it meant a first senior outing for young Ewen Shearer at hooker, Kieron Morrison went on for Owen McDonald at number eight, Andy Macdougall replaced big Kyle Graham who had another fantastic game in the second row, Callum Murray replaced Graham Maceachan and Andy Ritchie replaced James Divers and Robert Mclaughlin replaced Fergus McCoss.
The final score was Oban 58 Bishopton 5 and a fantastic performance all round given the horrendous conditions the game was played in.
Next weekend Oban welcome Paisley to Glencruitten for the last match in their West division 2 campaign for this season, happy to have surpassed the target of 70 points set at the start of the season.
It is hoped a good crowd will attend the final match of the season and all ex-players are invited for a free pie and a pint at half time.