Alloa RFC made the trip up to JJ Coupar, bringing with them a large travelling support for what was their final game of the season, also a fitting finale for one of their stalwarts, Rab Truesdale, who was hanging up his boots after more than 20 seasons with Alloa. Blair sitting 4 points ahead in the league, they required 2 points from the game to be confirmed as League winners. Alloa theoretically could still win the league providing they claim all 5 points and Blair were to lose to Aberfeldy on the 20th April.

Alloa kicked off the match playing into the strong wind that had arrived as forecast. Both teams started off fairly tentatively, eyeing up each other to see what they bringing to the field. With Blair eventually fighting their way up to Alloa's 22 it was a turnover that allowed a fantastic attack from the visitors duly running in score nearly the length of the pitch. Converted 0-7

Blair were making hard work of the game, conceding penalty after penalty which allowed Alloa easy yards, which got them near the Blair try-line, Grant Watson and Fergus Barron put in some big hits to halt Alloa short of the try-line eventually Rory Grant getting his hands on the ball for a vital turnover. Pressure relieved albeit for a short time. Alloa attacked once again after the kick failed to find touch, only a try saving tackle from last man Jai Connelly kept the score at 0-7, Alloa then gave away another penalty. This time touch was found on the half-way line.

Another turnover in the midfield from Alloa got them on the front foot again, quickly recycling the ball out to their winger, Blair's defence just couldn't react quickly enough and Alloa were in for their 2nd try of the day. Converted 0-14.

Some positive words under the posts from the older heads in the squad were heeded, Blair were just not looking after the ball well enough at ruck time, this had to change for the boys to start getting into the game. Ferg and Arran Todd were running some great lines off Rory, making yards and getting Blair moving forwards. A kick over the top from John McLaren had the ball on the Alloa try-line, a great chase from hooker, Callum Michie, put the full-back under pressure and he couldn't clear his line, sadly a knock to Callum's head from the counter ruck meant his day was done. Graeme Brown coming on in his place.

More running rugby from Alloa had them back on the attack and down to the Blair 22, massive hits from Todd and Kyle Montgomerie halted the attack, but at a cost, with Kyle putting out his shoulder. Another forced replacement with Robbie Mason coming on. John McLaren now moving to 10. A scrum was awarded to Blair for a knock on. Solid as ever, it was the platform that McLaren needed, deciding to have a run from his 22 a great offload to Logie Walker who then trundled 50 yards up the pitch, stepping through a couple tackle efforts before finally being taken down. Rory was quickly in to recycle to the ball and McLaren was once again in the right place to run in from 20 yards out as the Alloa defence struggled to get back. Jai converted 7-14.

The game really burst into life now, both teams upping the intensity with some thundering runs from Ferg, Fraser Brown and Watson. Alloa too were testing out the Blair defence with hard, straight running. The game was now being played in the middle of the pitch, neither team making any inroads to the awesome defensive efforts from both squads, small mistakes allowing both teams their turn with the ball but neither could find a final pass or moment of genius to break the line.

HT 7-14.

Now Blair were playing into the wind, Alloa were certainly going to take advantage. Their kicking game keeping full-back Jai busy for the rest of the game. Jai was quickly called into action, caught a kick over well and went on one of his leggy and jinky runs rounding 2 defenders before being caught, unfortunately conceded a penalty for holding on. Alloa were now on the Blair 5, with the lineout pod of Hepburn-Clark, Andy McOuat and Arran Todd making their usual nuisance of themselves, the lineout was disrupted. Blair scrum, secured and that man Ferg picked and got us up to the 22 before McLaren cleared.

Blair were once again making progress up the pitch, Alloa now conceding a few penalties which Blair were making the most of. Al Guild had run his race after 50mins, Regan Gordon making a long awaited return to the pitch. A secured lineout had Rory utilising the man mountain that is Watson, crashing up to the Alloa 10, Todd then Rory got in on the action before a tip tackle on Watson saw an Alloa man sent to the bin. The resulting lineout again secured and after a couple phases Ferg was over the try-line, but a great defensive effort saw him held up. Back for a penalty advantage, Hepburn-Clark took it on, before Ferg put out a flat pass to winger Tom Hel-yer who dotted down after crashing through 2 determined Alloa defenders. Con missed 12-14.

With Alloa kicking deep, Mason went on a run a got us back to just short of half way, more ill discipline from Blair gave Alloa a penalty, which they took the kick to the posts. An excellent kick by all means. 12-17.

With the Blair scrum continuing to challenge, a dominant scrum on the half-way had the sidelines cheering, but ref deemed it have went 90. Next one secured by Alloa and another launched kick downfield, Jai again went on a mazy run, old man McOuat securing the ball at ruck time with Rory again finding Ferg who crashed it up yet again. With the ball getting recycled quickly going from one side of the pitch to the other, Blair were beginning to look like a threat with ball in hand, Irvine Laing, Walker and eventually out to Hel-yer who gobbled up 30 yards just had one defender to beat, but was halted by a high tackle just insdie the Alloa half. Penalty, lineout secured once more, but a turnover allowed Alloa to kick the ball all the way to the Blair try line. A moment of confusion, as the ball was thought to have been touched down, the referee didn't see it and Alloa managed to rip the ball from the Blair man and score. Converted 12-24.

Blair were a bit shaken, but Walker and Laing were now getting much more involved pushing the boys' forwards by finding gaps through a tiring defence. After regaining possession on the Alloa 22, Rory, McLaren and Walker linked up beautifully for Walker to finish off under the posts. Jai Converted 19-24.

More hard yards were getting made from Ferg, Watson and Todd again making it into the Alloa half. With Rory finding a gap at the side of a ruck, he darted through to the oppositions 22, with Todd in support a final pass and he was in, but agonisingly Todd couldn't hold on to the ball. Scrum Alloa. Another fantastic effort from the 8 forwards, saw the Alloa 8 pick from the back, only to run into Captain Rory, who brilliantly ripped the ball and scored. Jai converted 26-24.

For the first time and with 8 minutes left, Blair were in the lead. Another great run from Laing with Walker in support had Blair back in the Alloa half, a pass to Walker was illegally knocked on, yellow card for Alloa. Resulting lineout won yet again, but another turnover in the midfield allowed Alloa to attack, eventually winning a penalty for Blair straying offside. A fantastic kick had them 10 yards from the Blair try-line. A brilliant lineout steal from Blair just when they needed it allowed them to run it, quick hands through the back line had Blair near half way again only to come an end with a knock-on. The resulting scrum was won by Alloa and with a last throw of the dice they attacked, going out wide before a delicate chip over the top was somehow picked up by an Alloa player between 2 Blair men. Duly ran in from 40 yards under the posts. Converted 26-31. Final whistle blew as the kick went over.

A gutting way for the game to end for the Blair boys who put in such an effort for 80 minutes. A fantastic spectacle of rugby for the neutral with the 2 top teams of the league playing out a hard, quality game and very much played in the right spirits. Alloa were a threat all day, never gave up and thoroughly deserved their win. For Blair they got the 2 points required to claim the league title. 1 point for the try bonus and 1 point for finishing with 7 of Alloa.

Squad:
O.Hepburn-Clark, A.Guild, C.Michie, A.Todd, F.Brown, G.Watson, A.McOuat, F.Barron (VC), R.Grant (C), K.Montgomerie, L.Walker, J.McLaren, I.Laing, L.Mowat, J.Connelly,. Subs: G.Brown, L.Cunningham, A.Beattie, D.Wilkie T.Hel-yer, R.Mason, R.Gordon

Points:
1-Grant Watson
2-Andy McOuat
MOTM-John McLaren

A massive thanks goes out to all who attended the pre-match hospitality and who turned up to support the club. To Moira and Buzz Orr for the fantastic food as always. Paula Watson and Jayne Strachan for being the hostesses with the mostesses manning the bottle bar, also to all the staff that worked and helped on the day, shout out to youngsters Evie McOuat & Anna Strachan. Al Robertson is doing a brilliant job so please thank him when you see him. Finally to Alloa and their supporters, great to have them stay for a while after the game and join in with the hospitality.

Another massive home game Saturday 13th April as we host Ross Sutherland in the Bowl national semi-final, please get along and support once again.

Training continues Tues/Thurs 7pm.
Touch for all Thurs 6pm, another great turnout last Thursday.

Autumn International tickets will be available soon to order, looking likely a bus for the Fiji game. I will get a separate email out for this as soon as possible.

Dates for diary:
Sat 13th April H vs Ross Sutherland RFC 3pm KO- Bar only
Sat 20th April A vs Aberfeldy RFC 3pm KO- BUS TRIP get in touch if you would like a seat.
Sat 27th April- National Bowl Final (fingers crossed)

As always, any questions please do not hesitate to ask.

Andy