Ross Sutherland cheat relegation
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The Ross Sutherland players celebrate staying in League 1
Ross Sutherland left it late with a vital 24-22 win over a physical Harris side on Saturday to avoid relegation from Caledonia League 1.
Ross Sutherland had to win the game — or not lose by 13 points — to secure 9th place in the league. But at half time it was Ross Sutherland that were set to take the relegation spot as they trailed Harris by 22 points to three.
Ross Sutherland again enjoyed great support from the sideline as a big crowd turned out to see if the Stags could avoid the drop. Ross were first to test the vocals of the crowd when they were awarded a penalty on the Harris 22-metre line with the kick slotting over thanks to the boot of scrum half Stuart Mack putting the home side three points up to nil in Ross Sutherlands only points of the half.
From there Harris were allowed to get straight back into the game thanks to some uncharacteristic ball errors in midfield along with a breakdown in the Ross defence allowing Harris to capitalise on the errors and run in with four unanswered tries at the end of the first half. Leaving Ross Sutherland down by 22 points to 3 and facing relegation if the score was to stay the same.
Ross Sutherland needed to show some great spirit in the second half if they wanted to get back into this game.
With ten minutes gone in the second half it was Big Lachie Stewart who was first to put his hands up and be counted, getting his hands on a loose ball out the back of a scrum to burst into his large stride splitting the Harris defence to go over for Ross’s first try of the game with Stu Mack’s boot adding the extra two points.
From there Ross went from strength to strength building on some good running rugby, knowing the next score would be vital for both sides it was the Stags that looked the more determined to get it.
The breakthrough came with ten minutes remaining of the half. Ross secured quick ball from the base of a scrum, from there stand-off Ali Kennedy went on a weavy run with the help of some great dummy running lines from his centres that split the Harris back line, allowing Kennedy to go over in the corner.
The kick was again converted as Stuart Mack’s boot put the score at 17 points to 22 for the visitors.
With the game closing in on full-time, Ross again went on the attack through great running and the offloading game of the Ross forwards making it difficult for the Harris defence.
Ross eventually managed to go over once more with a ruck formed on the Harris five metre line scrum half Stuart Mack fired out quick ball to Ali Kennedy to go over for his second of the match.
It was left to man of the match Stu Mack to put the kick over with the game at 22 point a piece, but the kick never looked in doubt as it sailed over between the uprights.
Ross Sutherland paid tribute to Ali Ansbro who is stepping down as club captain for his hard work over an extremely tough season.
Ross Sutherland — K Drain, M Kennedy, G Rosie, K Mackenzie, A Ansbro, K Dalrymple, R Waugh, L Stewart, S Mack, A Kennedy, M Gordon, J J Eaglesham, D Kennedy, G Braddick, B Parks. Subs: A McLean, J Davidson, K Thompson, R Mellis.
