Last updated 13:39, Thursday, 02 October 2008

A VISIT to Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway – back in the Locharron Scottish Borders League after an absence of six years – was enjoyed by Arnold Clark sponsored Tynedale Colts.

Langholm Colts 5, Tynedale Colts 30

Due to school commitments and various absences due to injury, the previous week’s squad of 24, who registered the impressive 52-17 win over Kelso, was whittled down to a bare 16.

Nevertheless, another emphatic win was achieved on a sunny but windy day in this beautiful rural setting just outside this small town.

Tyne immediately put pressure on Langholm and continued to threaten the line for the next three minutes, until the home team gave away a penalty under the posts,

Dan Andersen duly converted to give the visitors an early lead.

The Tyne pack were in the ascendancy for the rest of the half, and would have added more points had it not been for blatant indiscipline in giving away countless penalties.

Fortunately Langholm were unable to turn it to their advantage.

Tyne did add a further three points in the 19th minute, following an impressive break by captain for the day Ben Franklin.

Langholm’s only answer to the pressure was to give another penalty away under the posts for Dan Andersen to convert.

The referee’s patience with the Tyne forwards ran out in the 30th minute with Dan Lansley being the latest culprit and was binned for 10 minutes for continual foul play by Tynedale.

Both sides had opportunities to put points on the board before the break but neither could convert.

The second half started with some lamentable defence by the Northumberland outfit and Langholm ran in an unopposed try – the first time in the match they had effectively got into the opposition’s 22.

This galvanised the Tynedale team and they began immediately to put their power to good effect.

Within three minutes, they had run in their first try on the left flank.

This followed some good forward play, with prop Dan Lansley taking the ball on the run and punching a hole in the Langholm defence.

This committed a number of their forwards, and allowed the backs ball in hand, which they very effectively moved quickly across the line for Richard Moorland to go over on the wing for a fine team effort.

Five minutes later, the Tyne scrum had their first of three turnovers in a row.

They managed to keep the ball in the resulting maul before it was freed for flanker Matty Green to go over for the second try.

Neither try was converted but Tynewere all points tothe good.

Tynedale’s third try originated in their own 22, when they won another scrum against the head.

Quick ball to Franklin saw him take 50 metres off the opposition before unloading to Rory Dixon, for him to run in under the posts, Anderson converted.

Within five minutes, Tyne had a similar break and Andy Evans went over but was adjudged to have made a second movement and the try was not given.

For the last five minutes of the second half, Langholm were encamped in the Tynedale 22 and threatened the line more than they had done in the previous 75 minutes.

This pressure was increased by Tyne again giving away needless penalties, but they held firm and turned the ball over in the ruck to release Dixon for his second try under the posts to make the final score 30-5.

If the colts can get a consistent turn out, and take the standard of rugby they played in the 20 minutes during the middle of the second half, they have a chance of securing a high spot in this league and perhaps doing well in the league cup.