We had Shield quarters and bowl semi-finals on Saturday as well as a number of league games.
We popped into Oban for Lornes quarter-final game against Dalziel which we reckoned would be pretty tight, and so it proved to be.
The home team got off to a strong start looking to attack out-wide at every opportunity, but each of the attacks was repelled by a well-organised defence. The breakthrough came from a bit of unstructured play following a clearance kick from Dalziel that was run back and following a couple of offloads, it was the Oban Lorne 8 who scored the try.If Oban could keep up this pace, it looked like they would score plenty more, but Dalziel (and probably the wind and rain) managed to slow things down, and Dalziel started to exert their own pressure through hard graft in the forwards. Following some sustained pressure in the home sides 22, Dalziel scored a try from a driving mall that was well formed and made plenty of ground.
A successful penalty kick for Dalziel gave us a half-time score of 10-7 in their favour.
The second half saw more pressure from Dalziel which they converted into a couple of penalty goals, and it started to look as though their forward power was putting them in the driving seat, but Oban weren't done. Some indiscipline from Dalziel allowed Oban to gain territory, and they built a sustained spell of pressure which would surely lead to a try - but they were foiled time and again by the defence and perhaps a bit of leniency from the ref as, while he awarded penalty after penalty within sight of the Dalziel line, no card or penalty try was forthcoming. Despite all the pressure, a three-point penalty score was all Oban added.
We were down to the final few minutes and the scorecard showed 16-10, so if Oban could regain the kick-off, the win for the hosts was still on. However what followed a bizarre couple of minutes.Oban knocked-on from the kick-off, Dalziel won a penalty from the resulting scrum, which they kicked dead. Oban opted for a scrum on the 22 instead of a drop-kick - won the scrum and tried to run it out, but heavy pressure from the Dalziel defensive line led to a mistake about 10 metres in front of the posts, Dalziel secured the ball that was bouncing about, and from the resulting ruck, the Dalziel veteran 9, Graham Calder, chipped over a cheeky drop-goal from about 7 metres out - as we say, all very bizarre.
That gave us a score of 19-10 with only time added on to play, so as good as over, but no, as right from the kick-off, Obans no. 8 gets his timing all wrong and takes out the Dalziel 2nd row who was jumping for the ball, giving the ref little option but to show a red card.
Oban will feel hard done by as they had the better of the try-scoring chances and played some entertaining rugby, but Dalziel were a bit more street-wise, slowing the game down at the right moments, and kicking their points when they were available.
In the other Shield games, the results showed the difference between West 1 and 2 as Glens put 71 points past Lenzie and Kilmarnock won 48 nil at Clydebank.
In the final game, Strathendrick were unable to raise a team, so Greenock Wanderers progress to the semi-final.
The semi-final line-up has Dalziel hosting Kilmarnock and Glens hosting Greenock. Ties scheduled for 17th November.
In the Bowl semi-final, Birkmyre gained revenge over Mull from the previous weeks encounter winning 6-3, whilst Glasgow Uni Medics won another close fought battle, overcoming Shawlands 28-26.
The Bowl final is currently scheduled for 8th December, with the venue to be confirmed.
West 1:
Despite not being on league duty, Greenock still sit top of West 1, with East Kilbride joining them on 20 points following a 34-27 win at Cumnock. However, it didn't look like this would be the case at half-time as a shock was on cards as Cumnock led 12-5. Cumnock have only one win from five so sit in ninth place, but this game shows they're competitive even against the title challengers.
A bonus point win for Cambuslang against Stewartry (last minute again), moves them up to third with the losing bonus point moving Stewartry ahead of Dalziel.
Garnocks win at Irvine moves them up a couple of places, ahead of both Glens and Irvine.
Greenock look like they'll be hard to beat, but the rest of the league is looking pretty competitive, and this weekend's games throw up a few interesting matches, the pick of them being Cambuslang's visit to Allan Glens.
West 2:
The Shield games gave us the chance for a change at the top of West 2 and, Uddingston took that chance with a 29-26 win at Paisley. This moves Uddy onto 21 points (1 ahead of both Lenzie and Oban Lorne), with Paisley moving up a place to 8th thanks to a couple of bonus points gained.Bishopton hold-on to fourth despite losing 45-5 at Wigtownshire. This was Shires first league win of the season and moves them up to ninth. Helensburgh remain in seventh with a hard-fought win at Loch Lomond 18-16. Lomond move ahead of Millbrae as they were again unable to raise a team (this time against Strathaven) - Millbrae have been deducted another four points.
West 3:
Only two results in West 3 with WD continuing the search for promotion with a big win against Hyndland (77-10), whilst Cowal won 52-8 away at Moffat. These results keep WD top and moves Cowal up to second, on the same points as Lochaber.Police Scotland Glasgow have been deducted three points for failing to send a team to Lochaber.
WD host Mull this weekend which should be a good one (note: kick-off now 12:30), whilst second place Cowal host third-place Lochaber in what will be another cracker.
See also:
Womens Results - 30th September 2018
Under 18 Results - 29th & 30th September 2018
League Updates:
24th September 2018
17th September 2018
10th September 2018
Photo Galleries:
Lenzie v Allan Glens
Irvine v Garnock
Cumnock v East Kilbride + Cumnock v East Kilbride
Helensburgh v Loch Lomond
Wigtownshire v Bishopton
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