Positives for Strathmore despite loss to Lasswade

Third from bottom Strathmore travelled to Hawthornden with just one win from six.

Up against them was seven from seven Lasswade, so it was the home side who certainly stared the game as match favourites.

Anything other than a home win would have been considered a shock but the Forfar side refused to let Lasswade have it all their own way.

Despite being obviously disappointed with the defeat, they returned to Angus with plenty to build on for the season ahead.

In spite of 36 hours of near continuous rain, the pitch was soft but nowhere near waterlogged.

About an hour before kick-off the rain clouds gave way to patchy sunshine with a light breeze.

Strathmore kicked off with the breeze at their back but soon found themselves defending in their 22.

With 10 minutes gone Lasswade turned to their trademark short range line out, catch and drive to the line with Tiffney in possession to claim the try.

Two almost identical scenarios before the half hour and another early in the second half brought up the bonus try.

With all four to his name, Tiffney rocketed to the top of the season’s try scorers list for the impressive home side.

Strathmore did get one brief glimmer of hope in the first half.

The restart kick from the hosts’ third try enabled a rare visit to the home 22 where Beaton charged down an attempted clearance and recovered it for an unobstructed run to the posts and an easy conversion.

In the second period, five minutes after Tiffney’s fourth try, Kelly secured Strathmore’s goal line drop-out, Cook carried it further and offloaded to Humphries who charged past the remaining defenders to touch down beside the posts.

The sixth and what proved to be the final score came on the hour when Robertson tapped a five meter penalty and forced his way over.

Matt Smith converted to give himself a perfect 100 per cent record for the afternoon.

The defeat keeps Strathmore third from bottom in the Tennent’s National League Division 3.

This weekend they are on their travels again making the long journey to meet Berwick.

Kick off is 2pm.

Elsewhere, Panmure had their scheduled game against Kinross postponed due to Covid-19.

That fixture has been rearranged for this Saturday.

Carnoustie HSFP were involved in a low scoring encounter at Alloa, losing out 9-8.

This weekend they play host to Madras.

Montrose and District faced Dundee Rugby Club at Arbroath but found themselves in the wrong end of a 40-10 defeat.

They’ll aim to respond positively to that loss when they travel to Crieff and Strathearn this weekend.

On Saturday Arbroath RFC play host to Boness.