Oban XV dig deep in tight match against East Kilbride

Oban’s challenge grew when fly-half Finlay Charmichael was forced off with an injury, bringing Iwan Roberts on to take over at the helm.

Despite the setback, Oban continued to fight hard, and Craig Wright dotted down for a well-earned try, pushing Oban into a 12-7 lead.

The game saw a significant moment when Blair MacFarlane, making his return after a long injury layoff from last year, crossed the line for a try to extend Oban’s lead to 19-7.

Half-time: Oban 19-7 East Kilbride

The second half saw a different intensity as both teams upped the ante. East Kilbride came out strong and were quick to level the score with two tries, bringing the game to 19-19.

Oban’s discipline was put under further strain when veteran Robyn MacQueen was sent to the sin bin after a series of penalties, reducing Oban to 14 men for a critical period.

However, Oban showed their resilience with a beautifully worked try from their own half. Craig Wright broke through the East Kilbride defence and set up Aaron McCall to score his first-ever try for Oban, making it 26-19. East Kilbride responded with a try of their own to tie the game at 26-26.

With the score all square, Oban dug deep, and Blair MacFarlane grabbed his second try of the day, a crucial score that put Oban in control at 33-26. The final blow came when Lorne Sinclair crossed for the final try of the match, securing a 40-26 win for Oban.

Despite the close nature of the contest, Oban’s eagerness and determination saw them through in the end. Their attack was sharp, and their defence, although tested, stood firm when needed.

Oban now have a break until February 21st, when they will face Strathaven in their next outing.

Final Score: Oban 40 – 26 East Kilbride