STRATHMORE Rugby Club got off the perfect start when they travelled to Falkirk to play Grangemouth in the opening National League 3 game of 2008-09 on Saturday.
The Falkirk one wasn't that great, but this didn't prevent the Blacks showing the sort of performance that was all too often missing last season.
In a fairly dour first half the Forfar side opened the scoring with a McLaren penalty after 25 minute
s.
Grangemouth, relegated from Division 2 last season, replied with an unconverted try to make the score five-three in their favour, and it stayed this way till half-time.
Whatever coach Dave Brown said at half-time seemed to have the desired effect, for there was only one side in it for the second 40 minutes. The Blacks looked fitter, faster and more organised, and ran in five tries, all converted by full back Jamie McLaren.
The first was a typical effort by Jason Leslie, seemingly back to is best after a long lay-off, with more following from Kiwi stand-off Mike Purser (2), winger David Hull and Jamie McLaren.
Added to his penalty and five successful conversions, the full back finished with a personal tally of 18 points.
There should have been a sixth try for Calum MacLean, but the young left winger crossed the line at such pace that he was over the dead ball line before he touched down!
South African centre Sarel du Plessis had a hugely influential game at inside centre and did everything but score.
Acquiring him could prove to be a very sound move, and on this showing, the Forfar team should fear no-one in this year's campaign.
This Saturday (September 6) Strathmore are at home to newly promoted Ross High (kick off 3 pm at Inchmacoble).
The full article contains 307 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
