The only way is up!: Langholm Rugby Club promoted

Rugby

Langholm 64
Gala YM 17

LANGHOLM sealed second spot in East League 2 and with it promotion with an emphatic 64-17 win against Gala YM at Milntown last Saturday.
In front of a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters they scored nine tries, eight conversions and a penalty.
Centre Nathan Smith notched up a personal tally of 39 points in the process.
With the pitch in good nick and the weather kind, there was some great running rugby on show and Langholm showed what they were capable of when they were in full flow.
Although this looks like an easy win for the home side, Gala YM proved to be difficult opponents at times, particularly in the first half and could never be taken for granted.
Langholm opened the scoring after eight minutes when a good move by Niall Cubbon resulted in a pass to Nick Swanston who ran round his opponent to cross the line. Smith kicked the conversion.
Langholm continued to pile on the pressure and Alan Tyler burst over for a try after 17 minutes.
Smith again made the conversion and a few minutes later kicked a penalty.
Gala YM responded with a penalty kick of their own to make the score 17-3.
Langholm were now playing some very good attacking rugby and created a number of chances before Cubbon took the ball just inside the Gala 22.
As he has done many times over the years, he broke the tackle and side-stepped the full back to score a great try just next to the posts. Smith secured the conversion.
Five minutes later Smith scored the fourth try securing the bonus point with 36 minutes played.
Langholm temporarily let down their guard and Gala YM scored a converted try to make the half-time score 29-10.
After half time, Langholm again seized the initiative and played with confidence.
Two excellent quick tries from Jonathan Wilkes and Nathan Smith, who converted both, made it 43-10.
Gala YM struck back with another converted try before Langholm, now with the bit firmly between their teeth, ran in three more tries, one from captain Alasdair Cavers and two from Smith who converted all three.
A great cheer went up from the Milntown crowd at the final whistle and Langholm had secured promotion with the win after a great display of rugby from both forwards and backs.
Coach Craig Hislop, the players on Saturday and all the squad of players this season should be proud of their achievement.
The team were given a great reception in the clubrooms and the partying went on well into the night.
Squad: L Miller, J Wilkes, J Little, C Helling, N Smith, A Cavers, N Cubbon, J Pool, E Turner, M Rose, C Henderson, W Gray, S Tweddle, E Patterson, A Tyler, F Mitchell, C W Tait, S Kitching, A Scott, C Bell, J Ratcliffe, S Devlin, N Swanston.