Howe of Fife move up table after second win of rugby season
Howe of Fife’s rise from the foot of Arnold Clark National League Division 2 continues after they notched up their second win of the current rugby season at home to Gordonians at the weekend.
Salvaging two bonus points from their 31-27 derby defeat away to Kirkcaldy seven days earlier had lifted the Cupar club out of the relegation spot to ninth and Saturday’s 26-19 victory against the Aberdonians moves them up another two places to the brink of mid-table.
Now seventh, and level with eighth-placed Kirkcaldy on 15 points from eight fixtures, they’ve put eight points’ distance between themselves and the basement spot, occupied by Preston Lodge, on eight points from seven fixtures, and opportunity knocks to widen that gap further this coming Saturday as they’re away to second-from-bottom Dundee, currently on ten from seven, with kick-off at 2pm.
Howe head coach Niall Lear welcomed back captain Eden Cruickshank at inside-centre and veteran Euan Bisset at loosehead prop as his team, playing with the elements in the first half in wet and windy conditions, returned to winning ways at their Duffus Park ground.
Only a few minutes into proceedings, No 8 James Stockwell injured his shoulder and was replaced by Will Howley, with lock Jake Douglas moving to flanker.
As expected in the adverse conditions, both sides found it difficult to handle the ball, but the home forwards relished the situation, setting up a ruck close to the visitors’ try-line, from which No 4 David Wallace emerged to score, followed by Australian new recruit Harry Britton adding the extra two points.
The visitors responded with a chip over the top of Howe’s defence and capitalised on the ball being dropped to score a converted try.
Despite injuries to key forwards and the absence of Fraser Allan, Howe’s appetite to make hard yards on a dismal afternoon was admirable against a stout visiting outfit, and they had the upper hand at scrums, pushing their opponents back repeatedly.
Britton’s organisation and control at scrum-half provided direction, and it came as no surprise to see the No 9 rack up the first of a hat-trick of tries.
Another shoulder injury then struck Howe, forcing blindside flanker Harry Purvis off, with Inver Petrie taking his place in the back-row and using his strength to good effect.
Britton’s second arrived ahead of half-time but Finlay and the hosts went in 19-7 up.
Gordonians fought back after the break, however, with the weather working in their favour, levelling the score with two tries, one of them converted.
With only a few minutes left on the clock, Howe’s seized their opportunity to claim five points.
After being awarded a penalty just inside their opponents’ half, Finlay kicked down the line, Wallace secured the lineout to set up a driving maul taking Howe close to the try-line and Britton was able to dart through a gap in the visitors’ defence to score his third try.
Britton added two of the hosts’ conversion, with fly-half Logan Finlay contriburing the other.
Gordonians’ try-scorers were Lewis MacLeod, Harry Falconer and Eli In Der Rieden, with No 10 MacLeod kicking both their conversions