Alloa RFC 1st XV………......…31 Blairgowrie RFC 1st XV….........7 The first match of 2015 was not a classic for the large Earlsfield crowd who had braved the elements of howling gales and driving snow, which are not the ideal conditions for a free flowing game of rugby.

However, Alloa were happy to take the five points on offer by virtue of scoring four first half tries and one in the second against a well organised Blairgowrie side.

The visitors were virtually unrecognisable from the team who had conceded 93 points without reply earlier in the season.

And indeed, it was the visiting side who got off to the better start when they shocked the host team with a quick try after only five minutes.

The score came from a simple pick up from the base of a scrum.

With 15 minutes gone, Alloa bounced back when Rab Truesdale was on the end of a nicely popped pass to score out wide.

Moments later, Andrew MacTaggart put his side in the lead when he spotted a gap in the middle of a ruck and ran through it unchallenged.

A further Truesdale try then a Lee Cairney effort just before the break secured the bonus point win and in a scrappy second half, David Jess was the only player to register a score following a nice dummy from the side of a ruck.

Both sides deserve credit for their efforts in what were terrible conditions and were glad for the hot shower at the end of the match.

Alloa now travel to Dundee this Saturday for a top of the table clash against Harris Academy FP, knowing that they will need to improve on this performance if they have any prospect of matching their recent Bowl win at Elliot Road.

Alloa RFC 1st XV………......…31 Blairgowrie RFC 1st XV….........7 The first match of 2015 was not a classic for the large Earlsfield crowd who had braved the elements of howling gales and driving snow, which are not the ideal conditions for a free flowing game of rugby.

However, Alloa were happy to take the five points on offer by virtue of scoring four first half tries and one in the second against a well organised Blairgowrie side.

The visitors were virtually unrecognisable from the team who had conceded 93 points without reply earlier in the season.

And indeed, it was the visiting side who got off to the better start when they shocked the host team with a quick try after only five minutes.

The score came from a simple pick up from the base of a scrum.

With 15 minutes gone, Alloa bounced back when Rab Truesdale was on the end of a nicely popped pass to score out wide.

Moments later, Andrew MacTaggart put his side in the lead when he spotted a gap in the middle of a ruck and ran through it unchallenged.

A further Truesdale try then a Lee Cairney effort just before the break secured the bonus point win and in a scrappy second half, David Jess was the only player to register a score following a nice dummy from the side of a ruck.

Both sides deserve credit for their efforts in what were terrible conditions and were glad for the hot shower at the end of the match.

Alloa now travel to Dundee this Saturday for a top of the table clash against Harris Academy FP, knowing that they will need to improve on this performance if they have any prospect of matching their recent Bowl win at Elliot Road.