BIGGAR Under 18s travelled to Dumfries with only eight squad players available.

The rest of the team was made up of those who have been away during term time studying and some who had not been available to play previously due to injuries.

Unfortunately, the squad still only totalled 13 and Dumfries loaned one player to play 14 a side.

In a hard fought game, Biggar lost out by six tries to five tries, but it was a good run-out for the boys who travelled. In their National League programme the Dumfries side has taken the scalps of Stirling and Boroughmuir.

The game was played on the smaller Dumfries pitch, which was going to limit how the Biggar backline was to operate, and it was likely to play to the host’s advantage as their forwards are their main asset.

From the start, Biggar struggled to contain their hosts very large and powerful forwards who were offloading at pace and causing many problems. It was to be a scrum that Dumfries won against the head which allowed them to pick up quickly and score a converted try.

A second try quickly followed when Dumfries put the ball out to their backs who outnumbered the Biggar defence for another converted score in the corner.

However, as always, Biggar responded, and it was down to Reiss Cullen to score the first try from a quickly tapped penalty. The scrum half sprinted clear to go over for a try converted by Aird Jardine.

Although Dumfries were dominating in the forwards they could not match this in the backs and this was down to mainly Reiss Cullen who continually caused the hosts problems all day. Dumfries could however keep it tight, Biggar struggled to control this, and the home side powered over for another converted try.

Reiss Cullen again lifted the visitors by once again taking a quick tap before evading some tackles to go over for a try which was not converted. Half time: 21 - 12 to Dumfries.

After the break Biggar had the wind on their backs but it was Dumfries who took the early initiative and with their forwards operating to good effect, they powered over for a fourth converted try. Biggar responded using the wind to their advantage and Aird Jardine pinned Dumfries down into their own 22. This was a good tactic and a well-positioned cross kick from Aird Jardine bounced out wide for Stevie Campbell to take at speed and race over for a great try. Dumfries responded once more and with some great offloading from their forwards they released their backs who cut inside the Biggar defence to score a converted try.

The game was now end to end and Biggar were using the wind to good advantage with long kicks from Aird Jardine taking play into the opposition half.

Biggar came back with a well-taken score from Danny McAllister which put Biggar back into the game. It is to their credit that the Biggar forwards stuck to their task and at times were every bit as good as Dumfries in rucking and mauling.

Dumfries replied with a converted try. It was Biggar who had the last say however, with Reiss Cullen again taking a tap penalty quickly. From his own half he ran out wide and such was his pace that the Dumfries defence could not hold or tackle him as he evaded defender after defender with superb turns of pace and great side steps to allow him to go in for the last score and his own third.

The game was end-to-end stuff with Biggar losing the try count by one but as they could not convert, Dumfries ended up with a convincing scoreline.

Dumfries are also in the Scottish Cup quarter finals and so it was a good experience for the coaches and players to see at what standard those teams who have been in the national league are operating. Although Dumfries forwards were hard to control they were at full strength and so much can be taken from the game. The Biggar backs were as good as Dumfries and this was acknowledged by Dumfries who gave the man of the match award to Biggar’s Reiss Cullen.

Thanks to everyone who came to Dumfries on Saturday and those who helped out with the team. The only disappointment was that more of the Colts squad were not available.