Report by Dave Hamilton

Kirkcaldy travelled to an extremely windswept Horne Park with a few injuries and late call-offs giving the management team a few issues to ponder prior to kickoff.

Nevertheless, as the Blues have done so many times this season those available turned up and put in a shift against a well drilled and motivated Falkirk side. Not surprisingly the home side played with the wind at their backs and the sun behind them in the first half as they started strongly pinning the visitors back in their own 22 from the start of the game.

The wind was very strong, and the referee had said there would be some latitude given with line-outs due to the wind, a strange call in my opinion, however it would be something that would haunt us as the game progressed. Some good work at the first line out conceded, meant turnover ball for the Blues, who, despite being up against the strong wind defended well until Falkirk scored out wide following a line-out. So, after 8 minutes the try was converted, and it was 0-7 to Falkirk.

It was clear that game management was going to be important with the weather conditions and both Fin Smith and Gavin McKenzie were cautious in their play, with very few kicks into the wind and allowing the forwards to take the ball upfield phase by phase to maintain possession.

Kirkcaldy despite the personnel changes, managed their scrummaging well, being aware that energy wasted in big shoves forward may jeopardise their ability to stick to the game plan. The pack retained the ball and good ground was made by both the backs running strongly at their opponents and the forwards grinding forward to gain ground. After securing a number of scrum decisions the pack rumbled forwards and after some good possession Rhys Bonner scored a try in against the post, duly converted by Fin Smith and it was all square at 7-7 on the 15-minute mark.

Mark Duckett went off at this point following a knock being replaced by Michael Harper. The Blues conceded a penalty a few minutes later which was kicked into touch between the 22 and the 5-metre line. A very questionable line-out throw led to another try and conversion for Falkirk, which made it 14-7 after 20 minutes. The question is whether the throw was straight or not, it certainly wasn’t and allowing play to continue cost the Blues 7 points.

A poor kick off into the wind resulted in a scrum on halfway to Falkirk who secured their ball and ran in a great team try from halfway to make it 21-7 following the conversion after around 23 minutes.
Once more with the forwards grinding forward and the backs probing effectively the Blue pinned Falkirk back once more and led to Seb Evans crashing over for a hard earned try after around 24 minutes, converted by Fin Smith and it was 21-14. As you would expect, Falkirk came straight back at the Blues and following some great defensive work by Rory Brown, good forward carries by Craig Hamilton and Conar Littlejohn took the game back towards Falkirk. A conceded penalty led to a kick to touch, and yet another wayward line-out was played on and Falkirk retained possession until a forward pass led to a scrum for Kirkcaldy.

A good carry from Seb Evans then a great break by Gavin McKenzie once more took the game back to Falkirk.
It was Deja- vu time as a Falkirk penalty led to a fine kick to touch, a decidedly squint line-out throw and a try in the corner for Falkirk, duly converted it was somehow 28-14 at half time.

A poor start defensively for the Blues cost them an early converted try and it was 35-14 to Falkirk.
The Blues suddenly looked a bit vulnerable, and another try was conceded and converted to bring the score to 42-14 for the home side.
A decent line-out from the Blues led to good possession and a conceded penalty by Falkirk. The Blues forwards gave Falkirk some problems and a line run by Craig Hamilton opened the door for Fin Smith to squeeze through the gap and score a converted try and it was 35-21 after 57 minutes.
The Blues continued to press the game into the Falkirk 22 and after some good grind work by the pack assisted admirably by the backs, Michael Harper managed to force his way through to score under the posts to make it 35-26, Fin Smith converted the following kick and it was 42-28 after 66 minutes.
Once more Falkirk came back at the Blues who put up some great defence but eventually conceded a converted try after considerable pressure from Falkirk. 49-28.

Another decent line-out for the Blues and good midfield possession led to an unfortunate tip tackle on Cairn MacDonald, a yellow card followed as Falkirk were reduced to 14 players.
The Blues weren’t going away, and again some good work in possession, took the Blues into the Falkirk 22, some good handling from Craig Hamilton found Owen Bonner in support and he in turn supplied Rory Brown who was in the right place to crash over for a tidy try. Duly converted by Fin Smith it was 49-35 on 79 minutes.

The game finished with Falkirk putting pressure on the Blues who stood firm and the game ended 49-35.
A valiant effort from the Blues, against a good rugby playing side, however you must question the wisdom of not ensuring hookers tailor their throws to the prevailing weather conditions, after all no such concessions were given to any dead ball kicking.
A game of what might have been, still a grand effort all round though and a bonus point secured which maybe very useful in the coming weeks.