Strathmore 33-20 Howe of Fife

Rescheduled for the same day as Scotland were playing Italy in Rome, one had to wonder about such timing.

The weather once more was playing up.

With some foresight the game was moved to the Dundee Performance Centre at Caird Park on a 4G artificial surface.

Due to the unavailability of several players Howe put out a changed side, especially in the key positions.

Young Gregor Manson at scrum half partnered Stewart Lathangie at stand-off. Euan Bisset came in at loosehead prop, Rory Johnstone taking up the hooker’s role with regular Fraser Allan moving to the back row.

Coach Gavin Emerson started in the second row. Graham Thomson returned to his centre duties with Greg Frearson on the wing.

Aligned East to West the gale force wind funnelled right down the pitch.

Howe were playing into the elements, with the occasional wintry showers.

With the wind at their backs Strathmore pressured Howe for the first 40 minutes.

Their close quarter play both in attack and defence caused numerous problems for Howe.

Howe fell behind to a Lee Alexander penalty, when they transgressed at a ruck. This was followed by a try from Blair Butchart.

Howe’s defence was not coping with Strathmore’s hard, direct running. A further try from Strathmore courtesy of Fergus Mitchell extended their lead to 13-0.

Howe appeared to have brought the wrath of the referee down on them with coach Emerson receiving a yellow.

This seemed to fire up Howe.

For the first time Howe launched an attack from within their own half with the forwards keeping possession.

The effort was finished off by winger Stewart Dawson to reduce the leeway to 13-5.

Before the half was ended, Strathmore notched another penalty from Alexander, to lead 18-5

It had been a difficult half for Howe. The buffeting, swirling gale wind, making life very difficult.

Although the handling mistakes by Howe contributed significantly to their woes.

Howe also lost winger Frearson to an ankle injury.

Restarting with the wind at their back Howe would have expected to lay siege to the Strathmore line, and, so it seemed as Rory Johnstone forced his way over.

Now only eight points behind, one would have put money on the Howe coming up with a few more scores.

This was not exactly the scenario that followed, however.

Howe continued to incur the wrath of the referee but also made countless handling errors.

There was little structure or understanding in the backs’ play.

The defence struggling to contain Strathmore’s hard straight running of both forwards and backs.

Strathmore played to the conditions far better. Short, close passes, not risking them ball, denying Howe time on the ball. Howe without a natural kicker from hand, could not keep Strathmore pinned back.

And once more the ref produced a yellow to give Stewart Lathangie a spell in the bin.

Strathmore stretched their lead with a try for Rhuairidh Beaton. Followed by another from Duncan Shaw.

Howe’s Cammy Walker stepped in with an interception try. James Kelly added another for Strathmore.

Then as the game ended, Graham Thomson managed to bury through a throng of players to score a fourth for Howe, giving them a bonus point.

Howe, having lost the last two league encounters have all but counted themselves out of promotion.

What they can do, if they sort out the basic errors, play to the conditions and get back to a more settled side.

They can influence who will take the promotion spots.

And there is the cup semi-final at the end of March against GHK. With a full squad available for selection, it will give added impetus towards the end of the season.