This, as it looks, was a very even game between a huge home side and a smaller but more tenacious Force side packed with John Wayne’ True Grit. Neither side deserved to lose and it was only with the last kick of the game that the hosts secured the victory.
The Force’s Bailey Donaldson used the ferocious gale in a way that would make Sir Chay Blyth proud and with Fraser Renwick mining ever ruck for ball like a nearby Monktonhall collier it was the boys in green who took a slender half time lead. Cian Riddell had romped home to score an enterprising try after great work by Liam Graham in the pack and with Harris Brogan catching several tricky high balls prospects looked good until Brogan took a high shot and departed to recuperate on the touchline. This was a blow because, like all his team mates, the lads were reaping the benefit of hard work and Brogan was always in the thick of it along with the ever-dependable Grant Huggan who has not missed a tackle since he was in nappies.
The second half saw the reintroduction of Charlie Welsh after what he said were 49 weeks off. Someone must have fed him that line as this ‘cheeky chappy’ could not have counted that far even with the late, great Bob Elliot’s tuition. However, he was a brilliant addition and his sniping, darting, action packed play brought a well-deserved try for Sean McMichan to put the Force ahead again with 5 minutes to go. The hosts were fortunate victors perhaps as an expertly executed Ru MacLeod tackle flattened the ref who, prostrate, then could not see the Blues infringe a couple of times as they charged over to score the winning try.
With one or two fewer missed tackles, the odd better placed kick and 5 percent more fitness these young Teries would never get beaten. This result was hard to swallow unlike Hutton’s favoured tonic wine. Penultimate word to the 6 families and 2 injured players who came to support their sons and pals and who withstood the inhospitable conditions to cheer on encouragement. A big thanks to them for such commitment, the lads appreciate it.
Man of the match was Doddie Weir, though not playing today, he was there with us quietly supporting, always smiling, mad giraffing, gently encouraging and as he was, he always will be, the extra player in every team because if we all had a Doddie in our midst we would never give in.
