Stobswell kicked off in to a brisk wind and seized the early initiative, Smith gathered well from the drop out but was engulfed by the fired up visitors and forced into touch on the half way line. Stobswell gained the early ascendancy when their scrum half took a quick penalty and forged his way to the Arbroath 22. The ball made its way to the Stobswell standoff who attempted a grubber kick through the advancing defence, fortunately for Arbroath the ball rebounded off Brown and McLennan was quick to pounce on it. Showing quick thinking he offloaded smartly to Owen who in turn released Williams on the wing who found some space and managed to break out to the half way line before being bundled into touch.

Sensing the gathering momentum from Stobswell, Farthing put his body on the line with a bone crunching hit on his opposite number which dislodged the ball from the carrier. Arbroath were still being hemmed in their own half but a secure scrum saw the ball fired out to Halliwell who popped the ball to the on rushing Grey who made intial inroads through the stout Stobswell defence. Smith was in support to receive the pass and it required three Stobswell defenders to finally haul him down. Stobswell were penalised in the resulting ruck and Arbroath were finally able to exert some pressure on the visitors for the first time when they kicked to touch on the Stobswell 22.

The misfiring Arbroath lineout lost the ball but impressive counter rucking from Breach and Neish saw the homester’s regain possession. Hiscock drove from the base of the ruck and some fine interlink play between Neish and McLennan saw Arbroath bearing down on the visitors’ try line however a knock on from the back line halted the Arbroath momentum. The game by now was evenly balanced and with rucks being keenly contested with no quarter asked or given. Stout defence from Breach and Brown repelled two surges from the Stobswell forwards and the Arbroath pack began to seize the initiative by gaining the ascendancy in the scrummages. A mighty push from the formidable front row of Smith,Owen and Cowan saw the home side steal the ball against the head, Grey took a trademark pop from Halliwell and beat a pack of defenders to run all of 40 metres before being snagged but was unlucky to be penalised for holding on to the ball due to lack of support.

Stobswell cleared to their own 10 metre line but their resulting lineout was not straight and Arbroath were awarded a scrum. The determined McLellan initiated a surge into Stobswell territory, the ball was rifled to Halliwell who in turn offloaded to Farthing whilst looping round the receiving player. With the Stobswell defensive line confused and sucked in Halliwell fired a perfect pass to winger Hiscock with the try line at his mercy. He dived for the line for what looked like a well worked score, however, disappointingly it was ruled that he had been in touch before grounding the ball. The pressure was beginning to build on the visitors and Arbroath managed to steal the resulting lineout only for Oliver to unluckily knock on. However, he made amends when Arbroath managed to steal the scrum against the head and he powered through despairing defenders to score a converted try. Arbroath 7 – Stobswell 0.

Stubborn Stobswell were not prepared to roll over easily and they attempted to reassert some pressure on the homesters’ defence. Their standoff planted a high kick into the Arbroath 22, Owen gathered and called the mark and for possibly the first time in his illustrious career he was required to clear his own lines and much to the delight of the home crowd he not only did this but managed to kick the ball all the way to his own 10 metre line. Not to be deterred Stobswell set up a series of phases which forced Arbroath to concede a penalty which the visitors capitalised on. Arbroath 7 – Stobswell 3.

Just when it looked like Stobswell had re-established themselves in the game, Arbroath stormed down the pitch where a bustling and powerful run from Dissel led to a converted try. Arbroath 14 – Stobswell 3.

Determined not to let Stobswell back into the game this time, MacIntosh somehow emerged from the bottom of a Stobswell ruck with possession of the ball and Grey hacked the ball midway into the Stobswell half. Paddy Gibson came on and made an immediate impact with a trademark bullocking run which took two commited Stobswell tacklers to stop. The ball was secured and passed down the line but the by now deteriorating weather conditions caused the ball to slip from the attackers grasp and the whistle blew for half time.

Stern team talks from both coaches at half time caused both teams to emerge for the second half even more fired up than they began. A series of ferocious rucks and counter rucks proved that despite the difference in the scoreline that the game was still in the balance. A textbook tackle from Paul Gibson on the wing left his opponent sprawled on the turf and gave his fellow team mates much needed impetus to take control of the game. Oliver burst through a tackle and advance into the Stobswell half and was awarded a penalty when he was collared with a high tackle. In difficult conditions, Grey missed the penalty and Stobswell attempted a quick drop out but Brown was alert and managed to charge down the kick. The pressure was now beginning to tell on the Stobswell defence. Dissel found some open space and shrugged off two tackles before offloading to Spink who scored a crucial and ultimately decisive converted try. Arbroath 21 – Stobswell 3.

Stobswell heads had now began to go down and only despairing last ditch tackles were keeping the rampant home side at bay. Neish, Farthing and Cowan were ensuring a plentiful supply of quick ball which Halliwell was using effectively to keep the pressure on the visitors. On one such drive, Paddy Gibson received the ball fifteen metres out and with two men to beat. The spectators expected only one outcome and Gibson was not to be denied as he powered over for another converted try. Arbroath 28 – Stobswell 3.

The visitors discipline was now beginning to disintegrate and after giving away a penalty on their own 10 metre line, Breach took a quick tap and stormed his way to the try line, showing a potent combination of pace and power which the Stobswell defence had no answer to, he plunged over for another converted try. Arbroath 35 – Stobswell 3.

Grey further compounded the visitors’ misery with a mazy run from at least 60 yards out which saw him beat four defender’s to go in untouched under the posts for another converted try. Arbroath 42 – Stobswell 3.

Much to their credit the visitors were not prepared to finish the game without a fight. They managed to pin back the home side on to their own try line before finally forcing themselves over after a series of pick and drives to score a well deserved converted try. Arboath 42 – Stobswell 10.

Team: Smith,Owen,Brown,Breach,Neish (c), McLennan, MacIntosh Farthing, Balharry, Halliwell, Oliver, Grey, Williams, Hiscock, Spink, Cowan, Paddy Gibson, Paul Gibson, Keillor, Cambell, Forrest

This was a much improved performance by the home side who were rewarded for a productive training session the previous Thursday. They will hope to continue their momentum in to the last game of the season away to Bannockburn.