Lochaber RFC in six-try victory over Hyndland
Lochaber hosted Hyndland in the Tennent’s West Division 3 on Saturday.
Midweek it was a worry the pitch would not be playable but the drainage on the fairly new pitch did its job and the surface was in great condition for the game.
Hyndland reported to the referee that they did not have a front row so the teams would have to start the game with uncontested scrums which was a bit of a shock to Lochaber with Hyndland fielding two large props and their usual starting hooker.
It was Hyndland who had the better start to the game and limited the amount of possession Lochaber had on the ball and they had the first chance to put points on the board after winning a penalty, but the kick went wide of the post.
Lochaber started to build into the game and, after some excellent play down the right wing, Christopher Simpson crossed for his and Lochaber’s first try of the game with Jonathan McCook converting.
McCook was the next try scorer after a lovely delayed pass put him through to run in a score between the posts and he converted his own try.
During half-time Lochaber spoke about getting an early try and it came after just a few minutes with Simpson scoring his second of the day, running in under the posts for an easy conversion for McCook.
Captain Callum MacDonald got Lochaber’s fourth try and the bonus point when he got the ball down on the line while being tackled by two players.
Next it was Angus Jenkins’s turn to score. He had been moved into the backs after starting at flanker due to injuries. Some quick hands and a great line from Jenkins saw him run past the defence line to score.
Lochaber’s final score came from Lewis Morrison, who has come through the youth set-up at Lochaber. He had been playing on the wing but was moved to fullback after Jack Hamilton suffered a head knock.
Hyndland had kicked for territory and Morrison collected the ball in his own 22 and went for a run. He bounced the first defender and then with his sheer pace no-one could get close to him as he ran in to score in the left corner in front of the clubhouse. With McCook going off with a hamstring issue, home captain Callum MacDonald took up the kicking duties and slotted the conversion between the posts from the sideline.
Hyndland got the last say of the game when one of their centres intercepted a pass from James Young to run in under the posts which turned out to be the last play of the match. The final score was Lochaber 38-7 Hyndland. Next week’s fixture has been rescheduled and Lochaber now host Cumbernauld in the semifinal of the West Regional Bowl after winning 0-50 away to Cowal in the quarter-final.
Cumbernauld will be looking for revenge after Lochaber won 13-34 in Cumbernauld on September 21. Lochaber hope there will be plenty of support as they look to progress to the final. Kick-off 3pm at Banavie.