Bannockburn won the toss and elected to play downhill with the wind at their backs, using the pronounced slope to gain an advantage. First kick of the game was high and probing which was taken safely by veteran fullback Bedwell. The initial rucks in this early part of the game saw both sides contesting fiercely for the ball. Returning player Weaver, playing out of position at scrumhalf was to give an excellent account of himself in this unfamiliar position. Always early to the breakdown, he was able to make good ball available to his standoff Olliver, who in turn was able to release his centre pairing of Holiday and Dissell. The halfbacks were to make countless inroads into Bannockburn territory throughout the game, utilising inside and blind side moves. This in turn allowed the back row of Neish, McLennan and Farthing to secure the ball at the first breakdown.

This first ten minutes of the game saw both sides trying to establish dominance with no one side in ascendancy. A breakaway by the Bannockburn outside centre was killed off with a textbook tackle by Arbroath's up and coming winger Keillor. At this juncture Captain Neish came off the pitch with a head injury to be temporarily replaced by Forrester. Arbroath secured a lineout on the Bannockburn 10 metre line. An inch perfect throw by hooker Owen was taken by the soaring Forsyth, bringing the jumper to ground Arbroath set up a rolling maul, which was pulled down by the retreating Bannockburn forwards. This resulted in a penalty being awarded to Arbroath. Outside centre Dissell slotted the very difficult conversion and put Arbroath on the scoreboard . Treated and recovered Neish returned to the game to replace Forrester.

From the restart Bannockburn again continued to use the sloping ground to pin Arbroath back in their own half. Bannockburn going for a wide attack again became unstuck by the staunch defensive tackling of wingers Keillor and Hare. Arbroath continued to clear their own lines with some fine running and interplay between forwards and backs, Forsyth and Breach were making their presence felt carrying the ball deep into Bannockburn territory before laying it back for their supporting players. With 20 minutes played substitutions were made on the Arbroath side to keep fresh legs on the field of play, these were: Hendry for Hare on the right wing, and Cowan for Brown at prop.
Bannockburn were relentless in their probing of the Arbroath defence, but were unable to penetrate pass the solid resistance of the back three defence of Bedwell, Keillor and Hendry. Turning defence into attack Dissell cut a fine angle to get behind the Bannockburn advancing line. Olliver collected the ball from Dissell before popping to Neish who in turn passed back inside to Keillor who took the ball at pace. Committing his tackler Keillor passed out of the tackle to Neish who had looped around in support, the final pass of the move went to Weaver who beating 3 defenders got the Arbroath team up to the Bannockburn 22. This attack was not to go unrewarded with Arbroath earning a penalty for the homesters playing the ball on the ground at the breakdown. Unfortunately, Arbroath were unable to capitalise from the resultant lineout.

Arbroath were now playing their rugby in the Bannockburn half, several probing attacks kept Bannockburn on the back foot. This continued pressure earned Arbroath a scrum on the Bannockburn 5 metre line. Quick ball from the back of the scrum to Olliver saw him pop the ball to a rampaging Holiday, who charged for the try line , only to be adjudged held up on the line. Arbroath were not to be denied, continuing to dominate at the rucks with fine clearing out by the front row of Smith, Owen and Cowan, this enabled Weaver time on the ball to identify the next arriving Arbroath receiver. The Bannockburn defence was starting to buckle under the pressure, again Arbroath secured a scrum on the Bannockburn 5 metre line. No 8 Neish picked up the ball at the back of the scrum drew two defenders before passing to the looping Weaver, who wrong footing the Bannockburn left wing and beating the fullback went over for a fine team try.

Stung into action Bannockburn took the game back to Arbroath from the restart. Swarming over an isolated Arbroath defender they earned themselves a penalty in front of the Arbroath post. Their prolific kicker made short work of the conversion to earn them their first points of the game just before the half time whistle. Bannockburn 3 Arbroath 8.

Buoyed by their recent 3 points the Bannockburn players took to the field of play with renewed confidence. Again pressure on the Arbroath defence lead to a breakdown of discipline, which resulted in a further penalty being awarded to Bannockburn, another 3 points were added to their tally. Tiredness and indiscipline lead to penalties being awarded to both sides in this period of the game. However it was Arbroath whose penalty (earned from Bannockburn for not binding on in the scrum) was to be converted by Winger Jackman earning them a further 3 points.

With 30 minutes played Coach Matthews made several substitutions , Skivington for Dissell, McLennan for Farthing and Spink to replace hooker Owen. The restart kick was taken by Forrest, who running downhill at speed gained 30 metres before setting up a ruck. Quick hands between forwards and backs saw the ball reach fullback Bedwell who continued the attack. The ball becoming unplayable at a ruck saw Arbroath awarded the resultant scrum. Quick ball to the visitors outside centre saw Bedwell come into the line and take the ball, drawing the last defender he passed to Skivington who unfortunately, knocked on and the well worked deserved try went abegging.
Now in the last quarter of the game neither side were in ascendancy there being equal honours on both sides. Warhorse Owen was sent on for an injured Spink and proved to be the impact substitute that Arbroath was looking for. Leading from the front and well supported by the rest of his pack, Owen drove at the heart of the Bannockburn defence. Cowan, not to be outdone by another front row player decided he would try a chip and chase and gained valuable territory for his team. Again, Bannockburn were penalised at the breakdown, but Jackman was unable to slot the conversion.

Arbroath now using the wind and slope to their advantage kept the homesters pinned back in their own half. With 5 minutes to go Arbroath secured yet another penalty which this time Jackman made sure of , these were to be the the final points scored in the game. Bannockburn 6 Arbroath 14

A hard fought contest where neither side asked for or gave any quarter. Arbroath, deserved winners did not allow Bannockburn to breach their try line and celebrated their final match of the season with a victory. Man of the match, playing in his new position of standoff was player/coach Olliver. Arbroath RFC would like to thank their supporters and Sponsors ( The Millgate and Beckets Bar, MacIntosh and Fenton , M&B Timbercare and JS) for their continued and ongoing support.

Team:
Neish (Capt), Smith, Farthing, McLennan, Breach, Forsyth, Owen, Forrest, Weaver, Olliver, Keillor, Holiday, Dissell, Hare, Bedwell, Cowan, Brown, Spink, Jackman, S Skivington, G Skivington, Hendry.