The pitch was looking good and there was a large turnout for the pre-match minute’s applause in memory of Ken Macaulay. Both sides were at full strength and the game started in a lively fashion with NB working their way up the slope and camping on the Greenock line for most of the first quarter. That pressure was rewarded with an early try from Nick Hart on 15 minutes, converted by Macca Notley. Then on 19 minutes quick hands from the forwards saw Nick Hart putting Gregor Mitchell clear and he made no mistakes finishing well in the right-hand corner. Macca Notley nailed a difficult conversion to make the score 14 – 0.
The pace slowed and Greenock worked their way back in to the game, electing to kick a penalty on 23 minutes. Straight from the kick-off Greenock again threatened and NB had to defend desperately, eventually a solid scrum from Greenock gave their stand-off time to put in a well-judged kick out to the right wing where it was gathered for a converted try to bring the score to 14 – 10.
The penalty count was now going against NB and that, coupled with mistakes, meant that our line was once again under pressure, just hoping to hold out until half-time, but that was not to be. From successive penalties Greenock probed left and right then finally making use of the gap that they had opened up in the middle to crash over for another converted try on 38 minutes to put them ahead for the first time at 14 – 17.
The second half was more open than the first with both sides tiring and replacements being used. Very much in the balance with breaks and advantage favouring one side then the other. Finlay Mitchell made an excellent break down the left wing, was tackled and held up but the ball somehow broke to Jamie Keith who had a long way to run in but had the home support cheering his every step to put NB back in front 19 – 17 on 54 minutes.
That was never going to be enough and with 25 minutes to go NB needed another try to secure a bonus point, and hopefully to open up a two-score gap. A penalty to NB was marched forward 10 metres due to backchat and from that promising position Greenock were on the back foot. Another penalty on the 5-metre line saw quick thinking from Stu Lorimer who took a quick tap, pirouetted in a move straight from Strictly and stretched his full length to dot the ball down on the line.
Unfortunately, the conversion was missed so 24 – 17 meant that Greenock were still in with a chance with 15 minutes left on the clock. They worked their way up the slope and tested NB left & right, but the tackles came in from every direction until finally a penalty was conceded which Greenock elected to convert with the last kick of the game.
Man of the match was awarded to Stu Lorimer.