Banff RFC 10 ? Ross Sutherland RFC 25
ROSS Sutherland made it five wins on the trot their longest winning run in over three seasons after overcoming a tricky challenge on the road against Banff in a Caledonia Regional League Div 2 North game.
Banff were not short of confidence themselves after losing just one game in the last five.
It was the home team that struck first - straight from the kick-off Banff put Ross on the back foot with a wave of quick attacks. Banff sucked in the Ross defence to ship the ball out wide to go over in the corner with only two minutes on the clock.
This young Ross side grew in confidence as the half went on and were steadily putting more and more pressure on the home defence. As a result Banff gave away a penalty and up stepped Stuart Mack to put Ross's first points on the board to make it five points to three.
From then on Ross continued to build on their new-found confidence, the forwards making good yards with ball in hand thanks to powerhouses Jake Eaglesham and Jack Dickenson with young terrier Lewis Sinclair on their shoulder securing good ball as they went to ground. It was this kind of forwards play and determination that saw Ross go over for their first try of the match. Three phases of play through, the forwards stretched the Banff defence with quick ball then getting shipped out to the backs to wing Ben Parkes who put the burners on to go over in the corner. Stuart Mack was unable to add the extra points out wide but it was enough to put the visitors noses in front by eight points to five
Banff were not about to roll over and as the end of the half approached they hit back with a try of their own as they caught the Ross defence napping. The conversion was missed and Banff went into the half time break in the lead, ten points to eight.
It was Ross that started the second half the brighter, pinning Banff back in there own half.
This again resulted in Ross being awarded a penalty leaving Stuart Mack to see his effort hit the crossbar and go over to put Ross in front again, eleven points to ten.
Ross Sutherland went over for their second try of the match as the fitness of Banff looked to be tiring. Yet again the Ross forwards made great yards and secured good ball for the backs to again unleash the "road runner" wing, Ben Parkes to go over for his second of the game and fifth try in two games. Stu Mack added the extra points to put Ross into a eighteen points to ten lead going into the last ten minutes.As Banff pushed to get back into the match they began to lose discipline and were reduced to fourteen men for stamping in the ruck. With five minutes left on the clock Banff looked to get the ball wide.
Fly half Alastair Kennedy was able to take advantage of a knock-on, reacting first to the mistake he was able to pick the ball up and run in for a gut-busting sprint to the line with Stu Mack again adding the extras to make the final score Banff 10, Ross Sutherland 25
After the game coach Rob Parks said, "It was a great coming of age game today with some big performances coming from the young lads of the team - each match they seem to be improving." Next Saturday, December 10, Ross Sutherland are away to RAF Lossiemouth in the semifinals of the RBS Caledonia Regional Bowl.
Ross Sutherland D Edes; S McTaggart; D Ross; A Ansbro; J Dickinson; L Sinclair; R Waugh (Capt); J Eaglesham; S Mack; A Kennedy; R Mellis; R Danaher; K Thomas; B Parks; G Braddick. Subs: A McLean, J Mann, D Kennedy.
