STAT – Before this match it had been 124 days since the Strathendrick 1st XV had conceded a point to the opposition in a league match.
FACT – Strathendrick 1st XV had played only 1 league fixture in the previous 124 days.

Since the early days of Strathendrick, Clydebank have regularly proved to be a difficult opponent whatever their form. This season Clydebank have had a difficult time and in the 13 matches played have not yet recorded a win. Given that ‘Endrick arrived having won all of their 10 matches, the visitors were in confident mood in spite of the lack of match practice.

As it turned out the result was very much along the expected lines when a team challenging for the title meets one at the fool of the league.
The brief details are as follows. While the home side set off with a positive start, there were only eight minutes on the clock when Ben Gibson, playing at centre opened the scoring with a try converted by Fergus Brown. From there the 1st half scoring sequence was 11 minutes Craig Mundell – unconverted try; 12 minutes Angus North try – converted; 17 minutes James Ogilvy try – converted. This secured the bonus point.

18 minutes Ruairi Doyle try – converted; 27 minutes Clydebank try – unconverted; 34 minutes Ben Gibson try – unconverted; 37 minutes Angus North try – unconverted; 40 minutes Finn Walford try – converted. So far eight ‘Endrick tries with five conversions and one try to Clydebank.

Half time score; Clydebank 5 – 50 Strathendrick

The message delivered at in the half time team talk mentioned a lack of concentration and the need continue the match with as few mistakes as possible.

The visitors continued their try spree. 43 minutes Murray Calderwood try – converted; 47 minutes Ruairi Doyle try – converted; 48 minutes Craig Mundell try – converted. At this point Clydebank lost a front row player and the match continues with uncontested scrums.

51 minutes Dougie Duff try – unconverted; 55 minutes McKinley Paterson try – converted; 59 minutes Angus Morrison try – unconverted; 63 minutes Eddie Roche try (with forward roll) – converted; 64 minutes Craig Mundell try – unconverted; 67 minutes Findlay Kay try – converted; 69 minutes Findlay Kay try -unconverted.

To avoid a hat trick Findlay Kay was shown a yellow card for a high tackle with 75 minutes played.

There was no more scoring although the visitors did waste a couple of late chances. At the end ‘Endrick had scored 18 tries and 11 conversions.

Final score; Clydebank 5 - 112 Strathendrick.

A word for Clydebank. Well done today, to keep playing when things are so much against you should be applauded. We hope that next season you will be able to recover a winning formula and rebuild the playing squad.

The Duff Christmas Trees Man of the Match was awarded to Ruairi Doyle for a sound performance on the wing and later at scrum half while scoring two tries.

The next scheduled 1st XV league match is 22nd March when Irvine visit Fintry. Note that attempts are being made to play the twice postponed Uddingston game on a mid-week evening.

CJ