Langholm get the better of Quins in friendly clash
Last updated 22:05, Wednesday, 27 August 2008
LANGHOLM travelled to Hawick last Saturday to play a friendly match against associate club Hawick Harlequins at Wilton Park.
The Milntown club were without some players and used two from the Quins and one from Gala. The match was played over two 20-minute spells and another of 25 minutes.
At the end of a worthwhile exercise before the leagues get underway Langholm were winners by 26-24.
Steven Nicol and Jordan Reid were the pick of a hard-working Langholm pack and Craig Hislop, playing in the unusual role of lock, put in a power of tackling. David Irving was prominent at scrumhalf and showed up against his opponent, the former Langholm player Rory McPherson.
The first 20 minutes brought very little fluency but another former Langholm player Ricki Kiori opened the Quins scoring when going strongly for the line. The conversion made it 7-0.
A well-constructed Langholm move from the back of a ruck brought a try for Hislop and Tom Cooper converted. Robert Gullen on the Langholm wing attacked from a defensive position and fed Nicol who ran strongly and off-loaded to Jordan Reid for a good try. Cooper again converted.
Langholm applied pressure with a number of good rucks and were awarded a penalty which was quickly taken on the tap by Irving who caught the opposition napping. He darted in for a fine solo try, which Cooper converted with a drop goal from far out.
Quins pulled back with an unconverted try and were given another which looked to have gone forward.
The home side got a converted try when Langholm winger Richard McKay seemed to have got back and grounded, and suddenly Quins were 24-21 in front.
Langholm secured the winner when Nicol, Reid and Irving were all involved in a great attack which ended with Hawick recruit Renwick getting a try. Cooper failed to convert.
Langholm: S Bell, R Gullen, T Cooper, J Little, R McKay, A Renwick, D Irving, S Jardine, S Devlin, J Trimby, B Lamb, C Hislop, J Reid, S Nicol, G Reid.
Selkirk win own trophy
Selkirk won their own sevens tournament last Sunday with a great final display to dispose of Newcastle Falcons by 51-29.
Langholm had players off with injury and knocks from the previous day, with others unavailable and finished with a squad which included Nicky Laidlaw of Hawick Harlequins and two borrowed from Perthshire.
Langholm had little hope of getting fluency to the side but stuck in and eventually lost to Melrose in the first round by 28-7, with Jamie Little getting a try and conversion.
The Langholm players who turned out were R McKay, J Little, D Irving, S Nicol, S Devlin and J Reid.
Colts rugby
The newly-reformed Langholm Colts got their season underway last Sunday at Melrose Wasps sevens.
The young Langholm side gave a spirited display but went out in the first round to Jed Thistle by 32-0.
Hawick Wanderers defeated Melrose 12-7 in extra-time in the final to take the cup.
Langholm squad: S Tweddle, L Miller, S Howatson, G Irving, J Pool, L Miller, G Reid, J Ashton-Smith, J Devlin and J Maxwell.
Pathways rugby
Langholm players were to the fore in Pathways action last Sunday and four were in the Eastern Stormers team that beat a junior select at Berwick by 41-0.
Russell Anderson was at prop, with Eddie Turner in lock and Neil Cully playing hooker in a dominant pack. Adam Park took the field at fullback just after the break and grabbed a good try.
Joe Dickinson and Lewis Hawes were in the Roxburgh under 15 side that beat Berwickshire at Earlston.
Fixtures
The national leagues get underway this Saturday and Langholm are away to Dalziel who beat them by 21-18 away last season. Langholm also suffered defeat at home by 10-7.
Langholm will be without Keith Davidson and David Irving who are on holiday and several players are carrying injuries which, hopefully, will clear up quickly but the likes of prop Barry Jackson could be out for a few weeks.
The Colts are at home to Melrose Wasps in the semi-junior league.
