Madras RFC 1st XV………………..0

Alloa RFC 1st XV…………114

Alloa started the new year with a bang as they turned in one of their best performances of the season so far, with an 18 try demolition of Madras.

Situated as it is on the sandy soils, adjacent to the Old Course in St Andrews, the Station Road ground was in remarkable condition, despite the seemingly constant rain over the last few months.

This allowed the Alloa side to play their exciting brand of running rugby to which the home side struggled to cope with for most of the afternoon and nine tries in each half were just reward for their overall dominance.

Indeed, the visitors had secured the four try bonus point within the first 15 minutes of the match with tries from Daniel Murrell, Philip Edwards, Sabelo Sam and a rare Rolf Maitland effort which raised the biggest cheer of the day as the veteran Back Row man pounced on a loose ball fully 6 inches from the Madras line.

Further tries from Lee Cairney (2), Martin McKenzie, Matt Pope and Daniel Murrell put the seal on a very impressive opening 40 minutes.

In previous matches this season, Alloa have been a little guilty of taking their foot off the gas after going in front, but Madras had no such relief as their already overworked defence faced a relentless onslaught in the second half.

With the Forwards dominating up front, quick ball was frequently available for Scrum Half, Martin MacKenzie who marshalled his Back division well and the inevitable scores quickly racked up as firstly, Matt Pope doubled his personal tally when he exploited a gap at the side of a ruck minutes after the restart and then fellow Back Row man, Gary Taylor opened his account moments later with a typical bullocking run from the base of a scrum.

The home side were rapidly tiring from their spirited defensive efforts and when they attempted to take a quick line out, half time replacement, Alan Keir was alert and pounced on the loose throw in to stroll unopposed under the posts.

Daniel Murrell soon completed his hat trick before Ali Edwards capped a good afternoon at Prop when he burst his way through a flailing defence. Fellow Front Row man, Matthew Duncan also had one of his best performances of the season and seemed to pop up all over the pitch as a link man and Sabelo Sam was on hand in support to benefit from one of Duncan’s rampaging runs with his second try of the day and the South African completed his hat trick moments later.

Michael Doig and Rab Truesdale completed the afternoons scoring late on before the Referee blew up much to the relief of the home side.

This was the ideal confidence boosting preparation for this Saturday’s top of the table clash against Harris Academy FP.

Alloa have already recorded a narrow away victory over the Dundee side earlier this season, but they know from previous experience that nothing less than 100% will be good enough if they want the chance to take the points this weekend.

A large crowd is expected at Earlsfield for this 2pm KO.