PL’s season ends after narrow defeat in cup
Preston Lodge 27 Falkirk 32
PRESTON Lodge’s bid for a league and cup double was halted on Saturday as Falkirk edged to victory.
The Prestonpans side had already been crowned National League Division Three champions and were looking to reach the last four of the National League Cup.
Standing in their way were Falkirk, who visited the Pennypit after enjoying their own impressive league campaign.
It was the National League Division Two side who got off to the perfect start, scoring a try after just two minutes.
That was the way the score stayed until beyond the midway point of the first half.
Finlay Hughes set up an attacking position in the visitors’ half and it was Jack Gordon who touched down.
The conversion was off target but Preston Lodge had closed the gap to just two points ahead of the half-time whistle.
A cagey first half gave way to more scoring after the break.
Again, it was Falkirk who came out of the traps the quickest and they scored a try just three minutes after the restart.
The successful conversion made the score 14-5 and another try for the visitors stretched the advantage to 16 points with 35 minutes left to play.
The next score was going to be vital and so it proved as Josh O’Brien crossed the line for the home side.
Two penalties in quick succession saw Falkirk extend their lead once again as the game reached the final 15 minutes.
However, Preston Lodge refused to be shaken off and they scored their third try of the day with quarter of an hour to play.
Blair Robertson broke through before offloading to Hughes, who touched down in the corner.
The decisive score would come with 10 minutes left as the visitors pushed ahead to 32-15.
Still, Preston Lodge were determined to make a go of it in the closing stages and put their guests under sustained pressure.
Scott Brown scored from close range and Fraser Falgate added the conversion to bring the gap down to 10.
Then, with two minutes left, Hughes rounded off a lovely break from the hosts to pull the gap back to five.
The conversion was unsuccessful and, despite pushing for another try, time ran out for Preston Lodge.
The defeat wraps up a memorable campaign for the East Lothian side, who can look forward to locking horns with Falkirk again next season in league action.