Lomond-Helensburgh well-beaten by Uddingston in rugby clash

By Euan Ramsay

Lomond-Helensburgh's 1XV were dominated by Uddingston in a tough away fixture on Saturday, October 28.

The match began with Uddingston kicking off and immediately taking control of the game, with their strong defence leaving the L&H team struggling to gain ground. The pressure eventually led to a turnover, forcing L&H to quickly switch to a defensive strategy.

L&H's woes continued when a poorly executed lineout resulted in a freekick for Uddingston. The home team wasted no time, capitalising on a quick tap-and-go that resulted in a try just three minutes into the game. With a successful conversion, the score stood at 7-0 in favour of Uddingston.

Despite the early setback, L&H restarted with determination. They managed to secure a scrum after Uddingston knocked the ball forward in a ruck. Their strong scrum was a glimmer of hope, but a subsequent knock-on once again handed the advantage back to Uddingston. The first half saw L&H struggling to find their footing, with Uddingston capitalising on penalties and defensive lapses, resulting in a lead of 21-0.

L&H's efforts to narrow the gap before halftime showed promise. They forced penalties and errors from the home team, allowing them to build attacking phases. Warren Smith's precise kicking earned L&H their first points with a penalty, bringing the score to 26-3.

The remainder of the half was marked by both teams making errors, but L&H managed to add another three points with a penalty kick from Smith, but another try by Uddingston finishing the half 33-6. The first half showcased Uddingston's dominant attack and L&H's resilience in the scrum, but they struggled to find their rhythm in the game.

As the second half began, L&H hoped to mount a comeback. However, their aspirations were quickly dashed as Uddingston scored another try, extending their lead to 40-6. The clock was ticking, and L&H needed a significant turnaround to have a shot at victory.

Despite the odds being stacked against them, L&H's forwards showed more cohesion, leading to a try by Sean Goulpillot from a great driving scrum by L&H, which Warren Smith converted, making the score 40-13. A yellow card for Uddingston provided L&H with a one-man advantage, and they continued to push for more points. Another successful lineout and driving maul resulted in Scott Smith's try, narrowing the gap to 40-20.

With ten minutes remaining, a win seemed unlikely for L&H, but they still had hope for a try bonus point. They mounted a spirited attack, showing their strength in the scrum and forcing errors from the home side. Christopher MacFarlane scored another try from a strong driving scrum, leaving the score at 40-27, just one try away from the bonus point.

Unfortunately, L&H's recurring mistakes in the final minutes allowed Uddingston to score once more, sealing their 47-27 victory. It was a disappointing loss for L&H, who only found their rhythm in the closing moments of the game. Despite dominating in the pack, they struggled with errors and misjudgements in the backline.

Looking ahead, L&H's 1XV will face Clydebank at home on November 3, with the opponents just one place above them in the standings. The stage is set for an exciting matchup. Meanwhile, the 2XV will return to action at home against East Kilbride 2XV, promising an eventful weekend of rugby. Both games have an earlier kick-off of 2pm.

1XV Shirt Sponsors: Chrystals Shortbread, Stewart Travel Helensburgh, The Ardencaple Hotel & IFfluent

1XV Team: Brian Lovell (Sponsor Patron Morag Fraser), Scott Smith (Linda MacDonald Jewellery), Sean Goulpillot, Andy Ripo(C)(Townhead Farm), Jack Chapman, Peter McCready (Patron Ian MacQuire), Joel Miller, Kyle Crossan (Mary Kingshott), William Harrison, Warren Smith (Kick10Ball), Jordan Ward (Patron Morag Fraser), Joe Bull, Stephen Powell, Dougie King (Bounce, Play & Party), Nick Fish, Harry Minchella, Thom Rees (Patron Morag Fraser), Charlie MacKenzie (Patron Nick Parry), Christopher MacFarlane (Tom Carruthers & Lois Houghton), Scott Newport (Lomond Grousers), Ben Wain & Josh Foster.