West of Scotland unable to put brakes on Lasswade

With their hosts second top of the BT National Division 2 table and vying for promotion, and West struggling near the bottom, the trip through to Hawthornden was with hope but little expectation.

The hope was for a better performance and this proved to be the case but with the home side playing well above West’s level the expectation proved correct.

West had a stiffish breeze in their favour for the first half but this proved to be of little advantage as the home side’s slick handling kept them mostly in the West half.

Stout defence held Lasswade out for 15 minutes but prop Graeme Cook finally broke the line and centre Mark Wilson finished off under the posts. Stand-off Andrew Bell converted.

Early in the second quarter the ascendancy of the home scrum showed when they pushed over a five metre scrum.

West defended well for most of the remaining half but were caught out by a jinking run by Wilson who touched down near the posts, duly converted by Bell to take the half time score to 19–0.

West started the second period in lively fashion and strung some long periods of possession together but they weren’t rewarded with territory or points.

Lasswade rode out the storm and second row Alastair Lamont exploited a gap in the West line and darted through with the Wilson on his shoulder to take the offload. Bell converted from out wide.

Lasswade’s forwards got their turn when substitute Rory McKenzie barged through to set up another conversion by Bell and West conceded again when Clark sliced through for another, Bell again converting

West got themselves on the scoreboard when a deft grubber kick by scrum half Alex Fisken was touched down out wide by Tom Smith,

But the game finished with another well worked home try scored by Matt Smith and converted by Bell.