Irvine put medics under the knife to regain top spot in West 3
After a 2 week hiatus following conditions that resembled the ice age, the beautiful game returned to the community sports club as the league leaders welcomed Glasgow Medics to a cold and wet Marress Road in what would turn out to be one of Irvine’s toughest encounters of the season.
With the home side looking to make it a cool 8 wins in a row, some people could have been forgiven for thinking that this was going to a walkover for the maroon and white… nothing could have been further from the truth as the medics turned up looking to take the spoils from Irvine for a second time this season.
From the off it was clear that the medics were up for an afternoon of brutal physicality and aggression and from the first whistle were dishing out bone crushing tackles like sick notes during a Monday morning surgery.
This awoke the sleeping giant that is Irvine into realising that only matching the oppositions tempo both at the breakdown and in loose would see them maintain their impressive run.
At the first scrum Irvine resumed normal service and drove the medics pack back like a porter driving a hospital bed down a corridor and were dually awarded a penalty… with the wind against them, Irvine played the percentages and started to turn the youthful medics side back towards there own goal line.
With Iain Van Der Speirs completely dominating the lineout with some outrageous line out jumping and catching, the scene was set for Irvine to score a couple of quick tries to break the hearts of the youthful away side….but that scenario never played out and the war of attrition commenced with both sides throwing proverbial punches to see who would blink first.
With conditions deteriorating and the ball becoming difficult to handle, it was down to the Irvine pack to create go forward with tight and structured play.
Following several phases of good ball for the home side and pressure beginning to mount on the medics, it was the loyal, hardworking and ever reliable lock Sandy Thomson who would open the scoring finishing off a 12 man maul in the corner.
Things only got tougher for Irvine when influential stand off Chris Hobson, only just off the physio’s table with a hamstring injury again needed a doctors note with a flair up of the old injury which may see the stalwart miss out on key fixtures in the new year. All at the club wish him a speedy recovery.
With a reshuffle required, the ever dependable Ruchin Filander moved from the back row to bolster the backline in order to keep up the momentum the home side were beginning to build.
With a diagnosis given by the coaching staff and senior leadership group at half time, some harsh words were spoken and this seemed to act like a defibrillator sparking the players into life.
With the second half starting as the first finished, blows were exchanged and possession was continuing to swing both ways like a stethoscope around an excited consultants neck.
With the home side starting to use the wind as a tool to aid territory, they began to push the medics back into their 22 on a more regular basis and it was only a matter of time before the Dr’s waiting room doors would buckle and Irvine would stretch their lead.
Following a loose line out from the medics, the rampaging Logan Ferguson showed exceptional bed side manner to feed off the scraps like all world class front rowers do to score and put a bit of breathing space between the home and courageous travelling side.
This was only short lived as the medics, whilst on afternoon ward rounds showed incredible spirit and determination to bounce back with a score of their own and keep the game of cat and mouse well and truly on.
With the likes of Ben Auld, James Wilson and Aaron Robertson starting to show the reasons why continental club scouts are starting to visit the Ayrshire coast the ever dependable Neil McMillan and Scott Kerr were like anaesthetists making any medic ball carriers feel drowsy once they had been tackled.
With Irvine finally asserting some dominance and sensing fragility in the medic squad, the scene was set for Logan Ferguson to start to show why Gregor Townsend has been sniffing round asking what his availability is come Feb next year… Some exquisite interplay between him and Iain Speirs midway in the oppositions half and Ferguson put on the afterburners to again open the gap between the two warring sides. Another quick fire try from Ferguson and that was the straw that potentially broke the camel’s back.
With Irvine now all over the medics like an itchy skin condition, the rampaging Cameron Scott got in on the action with a score before the wonderful Speirs who clearly plays a different game from the rest of us mere mortals capped off another fine performance with a score under the sticks nearing the end of the game.
Final Score – Irvine 38 – 7 Glasgow Medics
With a try bonus point, it is fair to say that the scoreline flattered Irvine with much to work on moving forward… but some sensational battling from the Marress Road side who showed incredible heart, desire and a stubbornness that definitely belongs in West 2 (or even West 1!)
A special mention to new player Brodie Mentiplay… a first start for Irvine and it looked like he had played in the maroon and white for years. A timeless performance with some incredible hits that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an octagon. Already a fans favourite, what more can you say. The no 15 shirt will have your name on it for years to come.
Finally – player of the match went to none other than Logan Ferguson… with the mood music suggesting he will be playing European rugby in the near future, it will be tough for us to keep hold of the youthful, incredibly talented prop. All we can say is, when you lift the Webb Ellis trophy, remember your roots dear boy.
Our focus now turns to the game of the West leagues and arguably the top game in Scotland next weekend as we travel northeast up the M77 to take on the mighty Birkmyre who are perhaps the only team standing between Irvine and a place in West 2 come next summer.
It’s sure to be a great day, please come along and enjoy a fantastic game of rugby.
