as they made the long journey along the banks of Loch Lomond, through Glencoe (busy with camper vans!) to Fort William. Lochaber is a welcoming community club with a pitch nestling below Ben Nevis, good facilities, an excellent club house overlooking the pitch and great local support. This was the venue for ‘Endrick’s first round tie in the National Shield.

As the players warmed up it was ‘four seasons in half-an-hour’ a sign of the conditions to come. As far as anyone could recall this was the first fixture between the two clubs: so rather a step into the unknown. Strathendrick made a whirlwind start – planning to make the disparity in the league positions show – and immediately swept upfield and after only 90” Daniel Anderson crashed over for the opening try, converted by Charlie ‘Chico’ Walker. Powerful drives and interchanges again took the visitors to the line for Anderson to claim his second try and Walker his second conversion, after only 9 minutes. The Lochaber boys looked a little shell-shocked and rarely managed to secure possession. A good break by the Strathendrick backs resulted in Kristiaan Lamb feeding Gregor Duncan to cross after 16 minutes and another led to Chico passing to the galloping Finn Walford for another after 22 minutes: both converted by Walker. A quarter of the game gone and ‘Endrick leading at a canter 0-28. But Lochaber settled into their stride, slowed the game down and – as the rain began to fall – used their powerful forwards to drive upfield. A number of minor injuries disrupted both teams and the visitors started giving away penalties – eventually allowing Lochaber to break the ‘Endrick defensive line for a hard-earned try and conversion. But on the stroke of half-time Lochaber were in turn penalised in their own half: sharp-witted Calum Mackay took a quick penalty and scampered through for another try, converted by Walker.

Half time score: Locacher 7 Strathendrick 35

At the interval, the referee was spoken to about players infringing. He seemed to take this to heart because almost on the restart the Lochaber prop was yellow-carded; followed shortly afterwards by scrum-half Mackay: 14 played 14. Before they returned, Endrick secured line-out ball in the Lochaber half and stand-in scrum-half Duncan cleverly scurried through the defence and fed Angus Morrison for a celebrated try. The home side used their forward strength and the game became rather scrappy with the result not being in serious doubt. But as the game wore on the speed and guile of the Strathendrick squad began to tell: great interplay between forwards and backs let Duncan in for his second try, converted by Walker, after 66’. Entertaining running continued and five minutes later Angus Morrison stole the opposition line-out ball and raced through for his second score. As the clock ticked down excellent interplay involving half the team, including Coach Eddie Roche more than once in the move, finished with Scott Dow touching down under the posts for Walker to convert and the referee brought the tie to a close.

A convincing win against tough, physical opponents but the hospitality and conviviality in the clubhouse was superb. That is was club rugby is all about.

Full time score (despite what the SRU website says) Lochaber 7 Strathendrick 59
Confirmed by the referee.

Eddie Roche awarded the Duff Christmas Trees Player of the Match to Rory Duff for another hard-working, versatile, dynamic performance.

NH