Biggar 35

West of Scotland 10

Al Stewart at Hartree Mill

In conditions hitherto alien this season – gale force blustery wind and wet - Biggar and West combined to produce an excellent match which held the sizeable crowds' attention to the end.

Facing the elements Biggar were soon tested in defence as West used their pack to take ball forward a couple of early driven lineouts sweeping play to the line.

Biggar's line held firm in the face of this early onslaught and pressure was relieved following a poor transfer which saw Aird Jardine kick upfield.

Quickly back into the Biggar 22 West centre Mark Davies opened the scoring with a penalty.

Biggar took control with the pack dominating a series of pick and go's which took play deep into the West half.

This eventually spawned ball for Notman who beat the defence to slide over for a try which Richard Peacock cleverly converted for a 7-3 lead.

It was Biggar who again took play to the visitors to ask questions of their defence.

A forward pass to Ewan Stewart gave West some respite and a penalty allowed them to kick downfield where they took full advantage of another lineout drive to march Biggar over their line for a try credited to their No 8.

Davies kicked for 10-7.

Biggar might have expected to take a lead but a number of penalties which broke up play and inevitable errors meant that they had to be content with a Peacock penalty which tied the scores.

This penalty was one too many for referee Lee fish who sent West flanker Fraser Smeaton to the bin for a 10 minute rest.

A breenge to the West line probably should have led to a try on the stroke of half time but the ball slipped from Andrew Jardine's hands as he made for the line.

Both sides and the officials took the opportunity to escape the wet at half time.

A combination of the first half front row efforts and the introduction of Henderson wrought havoc with the west scrummage as Biggar opened strongly, driving West off their own put-in on each scrum.

This gave skipper Davy Reive the opportunity to attack although the only reward was another Peacock penalty for 13-10.

With 15 minutes of the half gone Peacock kicked his third penalty to give Biggar a six point lead.

With the third quarter at its end West's Angus Thomson became the second West player to incur the displeasure of referee Fish and earn a yellow. Biggar took full advantage of their extra man by calling a scrum and marching the visitors back over their line for a try credited to Ross Jackson. Peacock added the conversion before being replaced by Gregor Stewart.

On the half hour mark another series of scrums which saw West in all sorts of trouble ended with referee Fish awarding Biggar a penalty try which Andrew Jardine converted for 30-10.

Biggar maintained their stranglehold on the match and continued to make things very difficult for the visitors.

The fourth try credited to Campbell who controlled ball well at the base of a five metre scrum before plunging over for the try.

Jardine was just off target with the conversion.

Altogether an excellent performance from the Biggar squad and one in which they controlled things as well as they have for several seasons.

Biggar: Richard Peacock, Alistair Sinclair, Andrew Jardine, Douglas Notman, David Paterson, Aird Jardine, David Reive (C), Donald Voas, Ewan Stewart, Dan O'Connell, Zander Lyon, Jamie Orr, Duncan Withers, Ewan Sanderson, Ross Jackson. Reps: Andrew Orr, Calvin Henderson, Steven Campbell, Gregor Stewart.