Glenrothes RFC 22 - 31 Alloa RFC
The away match for Alloa at Carleton Avenue was expected to be difficult, especially following last week's cup final defeat.
Glenrothes RFC, known for their strength on home turf, started the match strongly.
Their forwards dominated the set pieces, giving experienced stand-off Shaun Gray a solid platform to control the back line.
Fifteen minutes into the match, Gray spotted a gap in the Alloa defence and chipped the ball for his winger to score under the posts.
The subsequent conversion and a penalty soon after gave Glenrothes an early 10-point lead.
Alloa struggled to maintain possession, frequently turning the ball over and allowing the home side to control the territory.
However, after half an hour of play, Alloa managed to break into the Fife '22.
Alloa captain, Martin McKenzie, found a gap in the defence, leaving Lee Cairney with a simple conversion.
Unfortunately for Alloa, Glenrothes quickly restored their 10-point lead when poor tackling allowed their centre to score under the posts.
With half-time approaching, Alloa looked dispirited, knowing they would face an uphill battle in the second half with the wind against them.
They managed to halve the deficit when Lee Cairney finished a good handling move, completing the first half of play.
Alloa knew they would have to dig deep in the second half to leave with the points.
Their task was made harder when Glenrothes took full advantage of more poor tackling to regain their 10-point advantage, followed by a yellow card to Kris Aitken for a high tackle.
Despite the one-man deficit, Alloa managed to fight back.
Gary Taylor picked up from the base of a scrum on the halfway line and sprinted for the line.
As the covering defence arrived, he slipped a perfectly timed pass to supporting Martin McKenzie, who ran in unopposed under the posts.
With Aitken returning to the field, Alloa began to exert control on the match.
When the influential Glenrothes stand-off was shown a yellow card, Alloa took full advantage.
Matthew Duncan scored out wide, putting Alloa into a two-point lead for the first time in the match.
Despite some late pressure from Glenrothes, Alloa defended their lead well.
As the final whistle approached, Martin McKenzie completed his hat-trick of tries, earning the man of the match award with the last play of the game.
The bonus point win was a delight for Alloa, looking somewhat unlikely during periods of the first half.
Credit goes to every single player for their fighting spirit, with special mention to the experienced quartet of Taylor, McKenzie, Dale Foster, and Rab Truesdale, who led from the front when required.
The result ensures Alloa remain in second place in the league by one point.
They now have a four-week layoff to regroup and refocus before facing Crieff RFC away on March 22.
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