14's Boys - Biggar
THIRTEEN TRIES, ONE BREATHLESS AFTERNOON — OBAN LORNE EDGE A CLASSIC
A short-handed Oban side dug deep in the Argyll heat to pip Biggar 43–40 in a match that had everything. Oban came into this fixture three senior players light. They left with a victory that will be talked about in Oban for some time. On a verywarm afternoon on the Argyll coast, Oban Lorne's under-14 boys served up a thirteen-try masterclass of junior rugby — refusing to flinch even as Biggar pushed them every inch of the way, eventually triumphing 43–40 in a match that went to the very wire.
From the first whistle it was clear this would be no routine affair. With key bodies missing, every member of the Oban squad was called upon to step up — and step up they did, with spirit, resolve and no shortage of flair.
The foundation was laid up front, where the pack were simply relentless. Brothers Cormac and Cian MacDougall were a constant headache for the Biggar boys — ankle tackles chopping defenders down and dominant in contact, a genuine joy to watch. Cormac, captain for the day, led by example all afternoon and capped his man of the match display with a brace of tries. Alongside them, Hector Doherty, Caley D'Arcy and Harry Jay put in the kind of shifts that rarely make the highlights reel but win rugby matches: driving over rucks, stealing hard yards, and providing a brick wall in defence. Bryson Lawrie, back from injury, wasted no time reminding everyone what he brings — dominant tackles and an early try that set the tone.
Kerrera boys Struan Louw and Rory Vollum added muscle and menace in equal measure. Struan thundered through for a try of real quality, the sort of bullish burst that makes spectators gasp. Rory, meanwhile, appeared to draw on skills honed during lambing season on the farm — going full "ram mode" to make his presence felt.
The brains behind the operation were equally impressive. Debutant Caiden Gatward settled into the nine shirt as if he'd been there for years, getting the ball cleanly from ruck to hand with composure beyond his years. That ball found fly-half Christopher Cannon, who pulled the strings beautifully — mixing carries through the forwards with swift ball to the backs and keeping Biggar's defence permanently unsettled and guessing.
In the midfield, the centre pairing of Nathan Isaac and Jack Groom were a handful all afternoon. Time and again they tested the Biggar defence, consistently breaking the gain line and driving opponents backwards — both had tries to show for their efforts. Out wide, Daniel Luckhoff and Finley Ainscough caused problems at every opportunity, their pace stretching the Biggar defensive line and created space for others. At fullback, Callum Breslin was dependability itself —making multiple last ditch try saving tackles and never stopped fighting to protect the try line.
When the replacements arrived, they brought fresh legs and fresh resolve. Murphy Maclean and Jamie Smith added the beef and the banter in equal measure — exactly what a tight game needs. And there was a special moment for Leyton Johnston-Botterill, who ran straight on after half-time, received his first touch of the ball, and planted it in the corner for a momentum-shifting try that left the sideline in uproar.
In the end, three points separated these two fine teams — but the margin tells only part of the story. Shorthanded and pushed hard by an excellent Biggar side, this Oban squad dug deep and found something in each other. Every carry and every tackle was made for the player beside them, and when the game hung in the balance, they held their nerve together. That kind of spirit can't be coached — it comes from a group of boys who genuinely play for one another. On this afternoon in Argyll, Oban Lorne deserved every bit of their team’s victory.
