Game started in a strong wind but dry. Ellon put Falkirk under good pressure, and some good passing created a gap for hooker O’Brien to break the line twice and make 30 metres into the Falkirk half. The ball came back quickly and stand-off Paxton beat two men to score his first try for Ellon under the posts, and converted to make it 7-0. Ellon continued the pressure but couldn't score due to strong defence as Falkirk skirted the offside line. Heavy rain then started and remained for the game, along with the wind, creating tricky handling conditions, dampening the Ellon passing play.
The first foray into Ellon's half by Falkirk led to a penalty for hands in a ruck, which was converted. 7-3. Minutes later a line out to Falkirk on the Ellon 22 was played off the top to the Hooker in the 5 metre channel and an unconverted try run into the corner. 7-8. Both teams then attached each other with Falkirk getting caught offside and Ellon for hands in a ruck and not rolling away. A Paxton penalty was exchanged 5 mins later by a Falkirk one and a third to make the half time score 10-14.
An early second half penalty gave Falkirk their final points of the game. 10-17. Ellon then attacked and repeated offside gave a penalty to Ellon on the 5m line and a yellow card to Falkirk. The subsequent lineout led to a maul being set up by Ellon but for the second time were penalised for "truck and trail" when a try was close to being scored.
Falkirk did very well to slow the game down when they only had 14 players. However the weather didn't improve, really killing the expansive game Ellon wanted to play. After a 5 minute break for the referee to be treated for a knee injury, play continued with Ellon pressurising Falkirk. Whyte and Forbes really broke the line and passed out to the flankers to attack, with great support by Munro. This led to a penalty to Ellon, spun wide and Bonner nearly made the corner but was hauled down just short. 10 minutes left and Falkirk really feeling the pressure left them caught offside and the penalty was converted by Paxton to make it 13-17. Continuing pressure as Ellon piled forward in numbers lead to a break away by Falkirk and they seemed certain to score a try until a fantastic cover tackle by Evans at full back. Final score Ellon 13 Falkirk 17.
A good game to watch, too many penalties from both sides and a couple of learning points to take forward. The weather really took the game from Ellon and typically as the teams came off, the sun came out!
Ellon Vice President Gareth Kemp said "It was great to get the first game under way, but a disappointing score line". "It was a really good game to watch but the weather and indiscipline at the breakdown took the game from Ellon". "What was nice to see was some great forward driving, backed up by some very good passing from the backs, I'm looking forward to seeing these lads as the team gels and develops this season".
Up next is Stirling away on Saturday.