With the festivities passed the Rams made the long trek along the A75 for their first league fixture of 2017 in West 3 at the home of Wigtownshire Rugby Club, for an unusually calm dry afternoon by the sea.
Rams took the spoils early in the season so a tough game away was on the cards. The flock packed down with incredible shape and grit with set piece at scrum time being major factor in the Rams season there was no backwards steps to be taken in this game . Coach Cammy headed the flock through the gate with assistance from Salaman and Little, Cochrane an Currie set the anchor whilst Beamish, Strawbridge and Shepherd Duncanson made up the back row.
Steering HMS Rams from half backs were able seaman Burgess and Kane with McMorrin and Quigley forming the centres. Kirk Snr kept watch in the nest and Walker Jones and Drennan taking the Port and Starboard sides with First mate in reserve Jones covering all eventualities. Shire kicked off proceedings with the Rams coughing up an easy catch to give the hosts the ball straight back. Shire carried hard through phases to come up with a converted score and after a short period of play Shire soon scored another converted try again out wide. Rams responded with some good carrys and movement of the ball only for shire to give away a penalty and for Quigley to add the three points. Rams found their usual grunt in the flock which allowed Beamish several runs, again another penalty given and added by Quigley. Response was immediate and took shire only matter of minutes to increase their lead through good phase play and support with 2 more scores 1 of which was converted to finish the half 26v6 to shire. Similar fashion in 2nd half repeated itself with the Rams forcing a pass from the kick off allowing shire a golden opportunity to pick up another converted try from good handling allowing shire to keep the continuity to score. Scrums continued to be more and more dominate with several lung bursting drives by the flock forcing shire a long way back into their half, again the set piece was like a fine tuned battle ship which produced countless attacks on the shire pack and it paid off with a penalty with Beamish first to react with a tap and go and waltzed through 2 or 3 stragglers failing to get back the ten to score,Quigley converted.
Unfortunately shortly after that out wide the Rams started to struggle to make any in roads in attacks and spent more time defending despite chances from Kirk Snr and Walker Jones. Some turn over ball allowed shire to move the ball wide and for their centre to run home another converted try.
Some last ditch defending saw shire squeeze over under the posts for a final converted try. Rams gave it a final hurle up the midfield but tired body's and fatigue it was to be time called. Ft 47v13
Coach Cammy talked afterwards, A spirited performance with a few less mistakes at key times and taking advantage more of the set piece it may have been a different game. Another learning curve for the young team but Training is key to team performances and being able to progress that into games so a big week ahead as next up Rams welcome Isle of Arran to holm park on 14th January ko2pm. Junior Rams return to Training on Wednesday 18th January 6.30pm at Moffat Academy
