OBAN LORNE v KRFC

Last Saturday Kilmarnock made the picturesque bus journey to Oban via Inveraray in brilliant sunshine. Conditions were perfect with a slight breeze in Kilmarnock’s favour as they kicked off uphill at Glencruitten. Despite the wind advantage it was the host Green Machine who blew Kilmarnock away with a deserved victory 50-22.

Kilmarnock were encamped in Oban territory for the first nine minutes or so and a breakaway by the Oban number eight led to a Kilmarnock goal line drop out. Craig McWhirter’s kick was fielded and Oban penetrated the Kilmarnock defence with a converted try below the posts. 7-0.

Kilmarnock responded and pressured the home side but spurned a scoring opportunity giving away a penalty in the process. Oban then had a player yellow carded. Taking advantage, a further attack by Kilmarnock resulted in a try by the towering Kieran Pattie with no conversion by Josh Cooper. 7-5 after twenty-seven minutes.

Moments later Kieran Pattie received a head knock and was replaced by Andrew Paxton with Ross Murray moving into the second row. A penalty to Kilmarnock saw Josh Cooper convert to edge Kilmarnock 8-7 ahead. John Limond replaced Matthew Tame in the front row. The lead was short lived after Kilmarnock were penalised and moved ten metres back for mouthing, 10-7 to the hosts with two minutes remaining for the sin bin player.

Oban moved into Kilmarnock territory straight from the kick-off but knocked on for a scrum in the Kilmarnock twenty-two. Craig McWhirter kicked to touch for an Oban lineout and the ball was moved along the backline then from the ruck two phases by the forwards earned them a non-converted try. 15-8 after forty-two minutes.

Kilmarnock restarted and the Oban full-back collected the ball and raced some sixty-five metres for a brilliant killer try. The conversion ended the half Oban 22-8 to the good.

The teams turned around with Kilmarnock playing downhill but into a slight wind. Matthew Tame returned in place of John Limond. Niall Murphy collected from the restart, and his pass was taken on by Ross Murray and Oban were penalised for offside. Kilmarnock lost their lineout but a knock on gave them a scrum in midfield. Ross Murray picked up at number eight passing to centre Robbie Paxton who breached the defence and passed to Jack Provan who went over for a try converted by Josh Cooper. The gap was closed 22-15 after four minutes of the half.

Oban secured the kick-off and their heavyweight forwards made headway aided by two penalties and a yellow card for Kilmarnock centre Kyle Bendall. Kilmarnock made a turnover from the Oban tap and go to win a penalty. The penalty kick failed to find touch and Oban moved the ball wide with a cruel bounce from a cross kick wrong footing the Kilmarnock defence, Oban collected for a converted try 29-15. Eight minutes played.

Craig McWhirter’s restart kick went out on the full for a scrum to Oban on the half-way line. Both teams shared possession and conceded penalties with few scoring opportunities. John Brown replaced Ewan Callagahan followed by Ian Kerr replacing Connor Turnbull. Twenty minutes of deadlock then a penalty to Oban gave them a lineout ten metres from the Kilmarnock goal line. The catch and drive was made and their lock forward bull dozed over the line for a converted try. 36-15 the scoreline.

Four minutes later Oban won a penalty and the tap and go from short range saw another converted try. 43-15.

Kilmarnock on the rocks and another tap and go penalty to Oban saw Kilmarnock steal the ball, captain Craig Sheppard to Ross Murray then a kick to touch bounced infield with flanker Morton Sinclair chasing, collecting and scoring a well-deserved try. Josh Cooper converted 43-22 with six minutes remaining.

From the restart Josh Cooper fed stand-off Craig McWhirter who passed to speeding winger Ian Kerr who raced up the touchline but was forced into touch. Oban won their lineout and a swift change of direction by the backline gave them a last converted try. 50-22.

Kilmarnock won a scrum from an Oban knock on and in a last-ditch effort to find a bonus point try. Josh Cooper broke up the blind side, passed to Ross Murray and found Ian Kerr who raced goalwards but put a foot in touch to end the game. Oban unbeaten at home all season worthy winners 50-22.

Both Captain Craig Sheppard and coach Stuart Pratt were in reflective mode praising the players for their efforts and asked them to look forward to next season with more commitment. Go out and celebrate, which they did complete with fancy dress, a sing song, and cordials on the bus journey back to Bellsland.

On a personal note the travelling pensioners, Past Presidents Ken Aitken, David Lauder, Andy Hamilton myself match reporter Bill Barnaby together with nipper Stuart McFadzean, Sarah King and son Frazer had a good day out. It’s a pity there weren’t more of us. See you all at Bellsland next season, one more year and my quill will run out of ink.