Oban Spooked by Clydebank on Halloween
Clydebank 1st and 2nd XV squads were both at home
again this week and managed to overcome some of the recent problems with
injuries to ensure both teams fielded full squads.
The 1st XV managed to compete well for a fine 30-14 win with
the addition of a bonus point from four tries being scored. The 2nd XV held out against top of the table Hillhead/Jordanhill
but eventually succumbed in the later stages to lose 5-49.
Unfortunately, the result was tempered by the loss this week
of Robin Veitch who was a founding member of the club. Robin passed away on Monday 26th October
at home in Killearn. Robin was a great influence on Clydebank Rugby Club
and will be sorely missed by everyone at the club. To honour Robin’s memory a minutes silence was held
at the start of the two matches.
Clydebank started the match well, scoring a penalty within
five minutes to take the lead 3-0 but Oban, who appeared to
be travel weary after their trip, were jolted back into the
match. Within two minutes they had been awarded two penalties but luckily
for Clydebank they failed to convert them.
Clydebank settled down and pressurised the Oban defence. Robert Parr had a break down the wing on fifteen
minutes but was nudged out short of the line. Oban came back again and spent some time in the
Clydebank half.
Another Oban penalty chance went a begging on twenty minutes
and Clydebank took the opportunity to charge back up the
park. A ruck in the
middle of the park saw Clydebank win quick ball that was fed
along the line to Robert Parr once more. This time Robert stayed in the park and touched down
for the first try. The conversion was missed and Clydebank led 8-0.
Oban tried again to get back into the game and forced
Clydebank back into their twenty-two metre area. The Clydebank defence was solid but on thirty five
minutes Oban broke up the right wing and managed to step
along the line to pass the Clydebank defence and touch down. The added conversion narrowed the gap to 8-7.
Oban kept up the pressure on the Clydebank defence but seven
minutes later Clydebank broke through the Oban line, led by
Michael Starkey.
Again quick turn over ball saw Clydebank run the ball to the
wings where this time David Smart was on hand to receive the
final pass and score in the corner. The conversion was missed again and Clydebank led
13-7 at half time.
Clydebank started the second half briskly with a score
within three minutes. After several quick phases of play after the kick off
Clydebank had control of a ruck in the Oban half. Scrumhalf Ross Moffatt chipped over the ruck and
followed through, pressurising the Oban defence. The Oban winger fumbled with the ball and Ross
pounced on it, gaining control and passing to the supporting
Graeme Kyle who ran in for the third try. Moffatt missed the easy conversion and the score was
now 18-7.
Clydebank didn’t let up and kept the pressure on for the
next fifteen minutes. Eventually a line
out on the five metre line saw Clydebank march for the try line. Jamie Baxter broke down the blind side and touched down for the
fourth try and the bonus point. Once again the conversion was missed.
Five minutes later it was Michael Starkey who showed a piece of
individual skill to dance through the Oban defence and touch down under
the posts. This time the
conversion was added by Moffatt and Clydebank were leading 30-7.
With twenty minutes remaining Clydebank stepped off the gas. They still managed to keep Oban under pressure with Parr almost
scoring again just before the final whistle. Oban, however, had one more trick up their sleeves when they
touched down in the final minutes, adding the conversion to end the
scoring at 30-14.
Team Photo
The 2nd XV had a great first half performance against a
strong Hillhead team, defending well and keeping the score low going
into half time. Clydebank
managed a try from James Roberts who took a pass from No 8 Robert
O’Donnell who tied in the defence to make space for James.
The second half saw Hillhead eventually make breaks through
the tired Clydebank defence and run in several tries to open
up a commanding lead.
The youth rugby was all called off on the Sunday.