In the final away game of 2016 in West Division 3 the Rams headed north on the M74 for Bishopton or so they thought! With the match earlier in the season ending in a 29 all draw the Rams were keen to claim the full points after the previous weeks good performance, but a slight de tour via Birkmyre RFC after a misunderstanding in destination the Rams ended up at the hosts with a bare 16 man squad 20mins before ko.
Only one change to the pack from last week saw Keir Bell fill the hooker berth to complete the Hateful eight.
With a few regular faces unavailable in the back line Coach Cammy had the task of pulling the strings to feed the attack and marshall the troops from 9, Quigley added the vision and pace at 10 and new centre pairing of Morgan Kirk and Stephen McMorrin brought physicality and work rate. Keeping the back 3 in order Leon Kirk linked well with returning Chaudhry and Walker Jones on the wings and Currie covering 1-15 from the bench.
Early exchanges saw the forwards battle it out but a stream of errors from both sides prevented any flowing rugby. After good forward carries creating momentum in attack, a kick from hand resulted in Bishopton gathering and moving the ball wide to run home to score a converted try against the run of play. Rams gained a penalty outside the 22m but Quigley missed to narrow the gap. Rams made head way eventually with great ball carrying from Beamish,Salaman and Cochrane completing the Turkey shoot going from our own half deep into the Bishopton 22.
Some hands in the ruck resulted in a lose ball and first to react despite the protest Coach Cammy made it his own with Salaman running the perfect line the timing of the pass was perfect gift for the Captain to Crash through the wall of Bishopton players leaving a mass of destruction, Quigley converted.
It wasn't long before Quigley added a penalty for again hands in the ruck putting the Rams 10v7 up but this was short lived as Bishopton added 3pts of their own for Moffat holding on in the ground. Ht 10v10
The teams turning around and similar to the first half errors cost the Rams despite making in roads and the final pass or carry resulting in a turnover. Rams had a glimmer of hope extending their points through a penalty for hands in the ruck but Quigley pulled it wide . Bishopton soon responded diving on a kick ahead into the dead ball with a un converted try out wide to take the lead. But again good ball carrying from deep saw Coach Cammy push the forwards onwards and Salaman hit the gap with the turn of pace leaving many in his stride, a pass back inside to Cammy resulted in several phases short of the line only for it to end again with hands in the ruck but to the Rams joys a yellow card was shown.
Quigley added the easy extras with plenty time to play the Rams hoped to be back. Tempers flaring each team scrapping to get the upper hand literally and it would be Bishopton who had the final say, a loose ball kicked ahead and gathered whilst cover tackles from Leon Kirk and Morgan Kirk the latter putting in a hospitalisation tackle but text book said the ref on the line only for the ball to fall into oncoming support for a converted try and take Bishopton further ahead and leave the Rams without any chance of pushing late for a bonus point, on the full time whistle 22 v13.
A disappointing start to the day but despite showing good spells and plenty of character it wasn't to be. Captain Salaman was pleased with the 16 boys effort who stuck in until the end but perhaps a few less mistakes in key areas and more replacements might have been key to freshen things up but the young squad is ever improving which is good. Squad Salaman, Bell, Little, Cochrane, Borthwick, Irish, Duncanson, Beamish, Little, Quigley, McMorrin, Kirk, Chaudhry, W jones, Kirk, Currie Next Match is on Saturday 17th Vs Loch Lomond at Holm park ko 2pm. Junior Training is finished now for the holidays and re starts in January .
