Boars given taste of own medicine
Glasgow University Medics 50 Mid Argyll RFC 10
West Region League Division 3 After the last two games were called off due to unplayable pitches, the Boars were looking forward to a trip to play Glasgow Uni Medics in Motherwell.
Despite lots of call-offs, a strong team still travelled with 20 players for a game that could have produced the Argyll men’s first away win of the season. Mid Argyll had already beaten the Medics in Lochgilphead this season so expectations were high.
The game started well with Medics opting to kick off and a high ball was taken well by Boars prop Jason Hammond.
Mid Argyll secured the ball and went well in the opening five minutes to settle everyone into the first game of 2024.
A scrum in that opening exchange showed the powerful pack Mid Argyll had on the day where they dominated. An infringement for holding on gave Medics a penalty but solid defence from the visitors held them out and they were awarded a penalty of their own. The kick from fly half Coll MacKay never quite made touch but a great chase from winger Freddie Williams was almost rewarded, but as Williams dipped to collect, a cruel bounce made the ball hit his hand and slip from his grasp. The knockon lead to Medics’ first scrum of the game.
This time the home team held on in the scrum long enough to get the ball away and some quick passing and direct running from the backs had the ball out wide with an overlap on the visitors’ defence. They crossed the line for the opening try on 10 minutes. The Medics ran in a further three tries and one conversion before Mid Argyll got their opening try of the match on half time when second row Ben Rusden crossed.
Mackay couldn’t convert the kick from out wide and the ref blew his whistle for the end of the first period. Half time score 22-5.
From the restart Medics rushed up field and punched a hole in the staggered Boars defence. Liam Long made a valiant attempt to stop the attack but as he smashed the ball carrier down, the Medics player managed to get the pass away and again the try was scored. Three more converted tries from the home team seemed hard on the Boars but they were rewarded on the stroke of full time when prop Daniel Broderick crossed for the Boars’ second of the game and his seventh try of the season. Ali Peterson’s attempted conversion unfortunately could not hit the target.
With a two-week break for the Six Nations start, the next game is away to Birkmyre in the West Regional Bowl on Saturday February 17.