Bannockburn flew out of the traps and some astute kicking from their fly half forged them deep into Arbroath territory. The home side were hemmed in and when Greig was harshly penalised for feeding in the scrum, the Bannockburn flanker caught the defence unawares to charge over for the opening score. Arbroath 0 – 5 Bannockburn.

The referee was taking no nonsense and another penalty saw the Bannockburn fly half send a towering kick five metres out from the Arbroath try line. Good defence from Cowan and Hall turned over the visitors but Neish was caught in his own try area before he could kick to touch to relieve the pressure. Bannockburn secured the scrum and after several phases plunged for the try line. Despite Cowan’s insistence he held the player up, the referee awarded the try. Arbroath 0 – 12 Bannockburn.

Skivington was sin binned for backchat to the referee as a result of this and the home side seemed to be in complete disarray. Bannockburn were sticking to their game plan of playing for territory and with the wind at their back the fly half was sending some telling kicks behind the home defence. A further try saw the home side staring defeat in the face. Arbroath 0 – 19 Bannockburn.

After an opening 20 minutes to forget, Arbroath seemed to awaken from their slumber with a bullocking run from Smith. Hall was in close support to continue the surge but found himself isolated allowing Bannockburn to clear their lines. Gibson replaced McIntosh and made an instant impression with a trademark storming run. A deft offload to Gray saw the home side significantly breaking through the visitors for the first time. Warhorse Olliver barrelled onwards to give the homesters some initiative. Determined to stand up and be counted the Arbroath pack began to exert some pressure on the opposition. A rolling maul saw them come within touching distance of the try line only to be held up by some last ditch defence from Bannockburn. Arbroath were not to be denied and Olliver peeled off from the resulting scrum in unstoppable fashion, Gray slotted the conversion.

Halftime Arbroath 7 – 19 Bannockburn.

The second half got off to the best possible start when Gray gathered a loose ball in his own half. To the delight of the sizeable home support, he somehow emerged from what looked like a blind alley to streak towards the try line untouched. Arbroath 14 – 19 Bannockburn.

Bannockburn were now wobbling and looked to be losing their composure for the first time in the match. Indiscipline began to creep into their game and a series of penalties saw Gray attempt an ambitious penalty kick from the halfway line. The penalty attempt was well short but it kept the pressure on the visitors. The contact area was now keenly contested with both teams refusing to give an inch and keeping the referee on his toes at the breakdown. The Arbroath scrum, which had been unconvincing in the first half, was now looking more secure and when the Bannockburn scrum half was caught offside from the scrum, Gray slotted the penalty. Arbroath 17 – 19 Bannockburn.

Bannockburn’s indiscipline was now costing them dear and Gray gave the visitors a taste of their own medicine with a well judged kick to five metres from the Bannockburn try line. To the despair of the home support the ball sailed over the front jumper but Hall gobbled up the loose ball setting a platform for Olliver to pile over the line despite 2 defenders hanging off him. Arbroath 24 – 19 Bannockburn.

To Bannockburn’s credit they roared back and pushed the home side deep into their own territory. It was now all hands to the pump for the Arbroath defence, Cowan and Neish led by example putting in several big tackles which dumped the opposition on their backsides. With 5 minutes left, Bannockburn had a lineout 2 metres out from the Arbroath line. The tension was unbearable with spectators and coaches alike barely able to watch. Much to everyone’s relief the Bannockburn hooker threw the ball in squint to the line to give Arbroath a scrum on their own line. Summoning every last ounce of energy the front row held strong and Arbroath cleared with the final whistle being blown on what was a memorable comeback.

Fulltime: Arbroath 24 – 19 Bannockburn.

Despite a poor first 20 minutes which gave Arbroath a mountain to climb, every player gave 100% in terms of guts and determination to overcome a deficit which earlier in the season they may have seen as insurmountable. The manner in which the team came back bodes well for the future.

Team: Smith, Hall, Forrest, Cull, McIntosh, Cowan, Neish, Olliver, Greig, Haynes (c), Farthing, Gray, Ralston, Johnston, Skivington, Keillor, Gibson, Henderson, Cooper, Cargill,