Goodness me justice shall prevail sometime but for the second week running the brave Force team lost out in a tight game despite being the better side. There were some outstanding individual performances but once these youngsters all click together then a big and deserved victory will be served up for the lads in green. With the front row chuckle brothers (Carryer and MacLeod) often passing and breenging cleverly , ‘to me to you’, ground was made between them every time the dominant forwards got the ball. Despite going behind early Sam Frizzell and Rab C Linton pushed the team forward whilst behind the scrum the always exuberant Glen Welsh broke many tackles just as he does hearts on a Saturday night ‘up the street’. By half time fingers were getting cold and the odd dropped pass when in advanced areas meant that despite a Matt Carryer try the visitors led having kicked themselves into ascendancy. Talking of kicking, whilst the Teri backs didn’t always find their range it was left to Shaun Fairbairn to launch one so far and high up the touchline that it had Sherpa Tensing clutching on to it as it fell to earth.
A lesson in life skills at the break from coach Landels that would have left a guidance teacher like Coby in awe meant that the boys returned to the fray ready to put their best feet forward. Charlie Welsh was, with Teenie Renwick’s words ringing in his ears able to prove that ‘hie’s the youngest o’ the thrie,and hie’s the best o’ the thrie’, for today anyway. Fast running, tenacious tackling and a talkative nature that likens him to an orange budgie, saw the lad crash over for a try midway through the half to bring the Force deservedly to two tries all and it was only two late errors leading to two penalty goals that won Accies the match. Try as they might the deserved third try for the Force did not materialise despite quick service from the four helpful ballboys who would be welcome back every week.
Mentions in dispatches for Mathew King ,whose brother we look forward to seeing starring for the Clan again soon, and to Finlay Douglas who has more bubbling gas than a North Sea pipeline, but man of the match was undoubtedly Sean McMichan. This youngster has lost, like his age group, nearly two years of adult rugby and so it has taken them all time to find their feet. However Sean has grown in confidence every week , running directly like Olympian Libby Clegg, tackling decisively like Conor Mcgregor and fielding the ball adroitly like Johnny Bairstow. He was a deserved man of the match in a team that will serve up a big Christmas Gift very soon.
