Cartha Queens Park RFC away
Oban travelled to south Glasgow to take on Cartha in proved to be an exhilarating game of rugby which saw regular tries from start to finish.
Oban opened the game winning phase after phase utilising the strong running Aidan Lawrie, Josh Olds and Ben Docherty until the 3rd minute when Toby Wilson burst through the Cartha defence to open the scoring, converted by Finn MacKechnie 0-7
4 mins later another powerful burst from Wilson saw the ball moved quickly by Dougie Brown onto Lawrie to score 0-12
More pressure from Oban looked likely to result in a third try but Cartha's speedy left winger broke away from his own half to put Cartha on the score board on 10 mins 5-12.
Oban hit back with Brown going over the line after a good break from MacKechnie, with the latter adding the conversion 5-19.
Cartha replied with a try on 20 minutes to make it 12-19.
Again Oban hit straight back with good play from Jake Jevons and MacKechnie putting Josh Olds through a small gap which was quickly closed by the Cartha defence but Olds somehow spun and wriggled his way out of the tacklers grasp to race over the try line, converted by MacKechnie 12-26.
The next score from Oban was a little bizarre as a MacKechnie crossed field kick was touched down by Olds and the referee awarded 3 points for a drop goal 29-12.
Cartha responded with another try 19-29.
Once again Oban responded immediately when MacKechnie scampered over after good play from Lawrie, Wilson and Docherty 34 -19
Cartha scored the final try of a fast paced first half to make the half time score 24-34
2nd half
Brown scored his second of the game one minute into the second half after good work from Harrison Felgate, converted by MacKechnie 41-24
5 minutes later the Cartha Full back broke clear to set up a score 29-41
A fine break from Arran Budge on 45 minutes saw him release the supporting Jevons to score 29-46
Another Cartha break away score followed 34-46
On 55 minutes a strong break from Wilson saw his pass put James Blomfield into space to make good ground, the resulting ruck ball was moved to Olds whose lovely inside pass put Lawrie through the gap, Lawrie was tackled just short of the line but another good ruck saw Olds power over for his second of the day, MacKechnie converted 34-53
Cartha again hit back with a score in the corner 39-53.
Lawrie got a deserved second try from a well worked line out move that saw him race over from half way 39-58
On 60 minutes the quick thinking MacKechnie took a short goal line restart and retrieved it himself to race 50 metres upfield beating 5 defenders before sending Olds over for his hat trick try , converted by MacKechnie 39-63
Good interplay between forwards and backs then saw the impressive Brown go over for his hatrick try, converted by MacKechnie 39-70
Ben Docherty caught the ball from the restart and proceeded to power his way upfield knocking numerous tacklers out of this way on a 60 metre rampage before off loading to Jevons who then unselfishly passed to the supporting Brodie Milne to score, MacKechnie added the extras 39-77.
Cartha were game to the end and scored the next try 44-74.
Oban scored the final try of the game when hooker Connor Maclean having his best game of the season stole a Catha scrum to allow the excellent Olds to power over for his 4th try of the game, MacKechnie converted with the final kick of a fast paced end to end encounter making the final score 44-84.
Lots of players put there hand up for man of the match including MacKechnie and Brown in the backs, with Olds, Wilson and Docherty impressing in the forwards but today's man of the match goes to Aidan Lawrie who didn't take a backwards step all game playing his first game at prop, well done boys and thank you to the parents that drove to the match ensuring we played the game.
