Lasswade travelled to Burnbrae hoping to make it three wins in a row while West had lost their first two. A low scoring loss at home and scoring 40 points at Preston Lodge (55 points) suggested that West may be better than the results showed. What evolved was the proverbial game of two halves.

Injuries and other availability issues meant that Lasswade’s XV involved 7 changes, personnel or positional, from the previous week. This, plus playing in to a strongish breeze and driving, at times heavy, rain may explain the one-sided nature of the first forty minutes. On the back foot in their own half for most of the time, the visitors conceded four tries and two conversions for a half time score of 24-0.

Come the second period, the wind had disappeared and offered no assistance and the rain was replaced by patchy sunshine, The conditions suited lass wade better and within 10 minutes tries by Blackie from a a series of rucks near the line and one from Jackaman picking up from the base of a five metre scrum plus a Smith conversion gave the visitors and their support some hope of a comeback.

Within this revival several charging runs by Liam Greig earned him Lasswade’s player of the match.

Sensing danger, West converted a penalty to stretch their lead to 15 points and then dug in.

An hour had passed before the visitors came within striking distance when Robertson finished of a period of pressure on their line under the posts for an easy Smith conversion

The fourth try proved elusive for Lasswade and with time ticking away to the last five minutes they used a penalty by Smith to at least secure the loser’s bonus and 27-22 proved to be the final score,

Although it’s early to talk about league positions, Lasswade are fourth separated only by a 10 points difference from fifth placed Allan Glen’s who are their next opponent this Saturday at Hawthornden. Kick-off 3pm.