WITH the venue for this away game switched to Liberton High School in Edinburgh"s leafy subsurbs, it was Whitecraigs who came top of the class in a nine try feast of flowing rugby against mid-table Lismore.
SRU president George Jack was among the spectators and it was the right time for Whitecraigs to post their credentials and start their determined climb to the heights of Division 3. New recruit Stuart Pollock made his debut in the second row and a strong Whitecraigs team stamped their mark on the game from the whistle Pollock led from the front and after gaining secure ball, it was Gary Johnstone who crossed the line for the first of the visitors" tries. Captain Ryan Moffat was in excellent form and he converted the first of his successful 7 conversions.
The home side were suffering from a weakened team and although they had the advantage of the slope and the wind in the first half, they had little answer to a Whitecraigs team that was in superb form. The forwards took good ball from the set piece and Stuart Henderson at scrum half spun the ball out to the eager backs who ran at every break in the home defence.
First half tries from Gordon Hutton and Ally Stevenson took the half time score to 19 points to nil.
In the second half, the visitors took full advantage of the wind and the slope and pinned Lismore into their own 22.
The forwards again took control and number eight, Nicol Smylie, got the scoring under way with a break away try.
Ryan Moffat added a try to his mounting tally and Ally Stevenson grabbed a second try after breaking through a tackle.
Stand-off Ally Little made up for his earlier fumbles by weaving round the Lismore defence to make a 30-metre dash for a well taken individual try in the corner Moffat again crossed the line for a second try and it was left to fullback Graeme Fisher to cap his solid performance with a fine try from an Ally Little kick to bring the Whitecraigs tally to an admirable 59 points to nil. This was a first class performance from a rapidly improving side.
Coach Jim Henderson was clearly pleased with his team"s showing and while there is no room for complacency, the Whitecraigs team have made sure they will be more than a match for any opponents in this close and hard fought division. Whitecraigs - McCormack, B. Blamire, Laidlaw, Pollock, McKelvie, Hunter, N. Blamire, Smylie, Henderson, Little, Johnstone, Moffat, Hutton, Stevenson, Fisher. Subs - Percival, Davies, Hutchie.
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