Arnold Clark West Regional League 2
Irvine RFC 10 - 10 Wigtownshire RFC

Weather & Conditions:
Heavy morning rain made for a slippery pitch, though it had cleared by kickoff. A strong, howling wind blew straight down the field, making kicking and handling extremely difficult.

First Half:
Irvine started with the wind advantage, pinning Wigtownshire deep in their own 22. The heavy conditions played into Irvine’s strengths, with their powerful pack dominating early on. After just ten minutes, Irvine used their forward power to pick and drive over the line, scoring the first try. The conversion was missed, leaving the score at 5-0.

Wigtownshire’s plan to spread the ball wide was hampered by the elements, leading to multiple handling errors. Further disruption came when injuries forced early substitutions, with senior debuts handed to Jake Smith, Fraszer Cameron, and Bryce Gilliland. The newcomers adapted well and put in commendable performances.

Despite struggling to escape their own half, Wigtownshire’s defense was immense, with scrum-half Frank Gwynne leading the charge, repeatedly driving Irvine back in the tackle. At the 30-minute mark, a rare foray into Irvine territory saw the new centre pairing of Scott and Neil Forsyth combine well, allowing the forwards to power over the line. Paddy McAuley got the crucial try, though the conversion was again missed, leveling the score at 5-5.

As the first half closed, Irvine’s heavier pack began to tire, and Wigtownshire’s scrum stabilized, even earning a penalty for driving over their opponents. Buoyed by this, Wigtownshire looked forward to playing with the wind at their backs in the second half.

Second Half:
Despite the expected advantage, handling errors continued to plague Wigtownshire’s game. However, at the 60-minute mark, captain Scott Forsyth took a quick tap penalty, and after swift rucking, the ball was sent wide to Andrew McMillan, who found space in the corner to score. The conversion was missed, but Wigtownshire took the lead at 5-10.

McMillan looked to have secured his second try in the 70th minute, but the referee adjudged the final pass to have gone forward, denying Wigtownshire a greater cushion.

With just five minutes remaining, Irvine mounted a rare attack into Wigtownshire’s 22. Though they crossed the line, the referee ruled out the try for a double movement. However, as the final whistle approached, Wigtownshire struggled to clear their lines. An attempted clearance was charged down, leading to a last-gasp Irvine try, tying the game at 10-10.

Drama continued as Irvine lined up a simple conversion for victory. Just as the kicker began his run-up, a gust of wind blew the ball off the tee. Wigtownshire rushed to charge the kick down, but the referee ruled the attempt had not started and allowed a retake. Under immense pressure, the Irvine kicker missed, and the game ended in a rare and hard-fought draw.

Summary:
Irvine played to their strengths, disrupting Wigtownshire’s ball where possible and utilizing their powerful pack effectively. Wigtownshire struggled with handling errors throughout the match and will need to develop a Plan B for such conditions. This was their second draw of the season, leaving them in second place in the league. Their promotion hopes now depend on other results going in their favor.

A special mention goes to the 16-year-old referee, who managed the game well with clear communication and control.

Man of the Match:
Leswalt Village Store awarded the honor to Frank Gwynne for his outstanding defensive performance.

Coach’s Comments:
Coach John Dalrymple reflected on the match, saying, "A tough game played in tough conditions. It was disappointing to lose the lead right at the death after we had worked hard to get the upper hand for the majority of the match. A learning curve for our young team."

Next Match:
Wigtownshire travel to Clydebank next Saturday for their final away fixture of the season.

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Wigtownshire Squad:
M McColm, A McMillan, N Forsyth, S Forsyth (c), T Kawanza, B Forsyth, F Gwynne, A McAuley, I Allan, M Pirrie, S Mitchell, J McConnell, S McAuley, K Smith, J McGarvie.
Replacements: J Smith, B Sharples, T Beswick, F Cameron, B Gilliland, B Burnett.