GARIOCH took to the field on one of the best days of the year weather-wise, knowing that a victory was essential.

The only problem was that they were playing the league leaders, and the regional press had written off their chances before a ball was kicked!

Thankfully, with the Donaghue brothers at the helm of the coaching regime, reputations count for nothing. That said, it was a decidedly under strength side that took to the field, with a number of positional changes adding to the worries for those on the touchline.

Match Sponsors for the day were Ashlea Oilfield Services. With Director George Myles a lucky mascot for Garioch in the past, could he prove to repeat the feat against the leaders?

Not for the first time did the men from Garioch step up to the mark, and then some! From the off, Garioch hassled and harried their more fancied opponents, forcing errors that eventually saw a penalty conceded by Crieff for handling in the ruck. Captain Neil Moir stepped up and calmly slotted the kick.

Crieff picked up the pace from the re-start and pushed play deep into Garioch territory. A chip through was gathered by stand off for the day Stuart Raeper, but pressure saw him pass inside to Graeme Imrie, who was caught in possession, turning the ball over.

Crieff had the put in, but strong Garioch defence forced another error and the lines were cleared. Unfortunately in the exchanges, Raeper was injured, and Ross Watt came on for his season debut, after being out for over a year with injury himself.

The side was shuffled again, with Watt going to flank and young Stuart Morrison showing his versatility by moving to the wing.

Crieff continued to pressure the home side, but their backs handling was leaving a bit to be desired, and from spilled ball in the Garioch 22, the home side sped up the field, with Matthew Donald (Dondo) taking off at a rate of knots up the wing.

A superb cover tackle saw the ball popped to the supporting Evan Donaghue, who, for once, managed to keep hold of the ball and safely touched down for the first try of the match.

He had considered a dive a la Matt Gitteau, his fellow international countryman, but thankfully thought twice. Moir converted, to put the score to 10-0 Garioch.

Again Garioch were unlucky with injury, and flying wing Dondo was replaced by Colin Morrison, brother of Stuart. Cue re-shuffle, with Donaghue moving to standoff, Alexander to scrum half and Colin Morrison to flank.

A further foray into the Crieff half saw them once again concede a penalty in front of the posts for handling, and once again, captain Moir duly obliged with the three points, making the half time score Garioch 13, Crieff and Strathearn 0.

Garioch turned, and immediately faced a veritable barrage of attacks from a rejuvenated Crieff side. A penalty conceded by the home side saw the kick narrowly miss. A warning for the home side, but one they failed to heed. It was apparent to those watching that Crieff were unlikely to manufacture a try of their own making, and so it proved.

A mistake in midfield saw the ball turned over, and the Crieff flanker capitalised, breaking cleanly through the midfield. With only the full back to beat, he looked for support. Garioch fullback Duncan Ross did not wait, and took the flanker down before he could offload. Garioch cover defence arrived to clear up.

This was to be the shape of things to come, as Crieff pulverised the Garioch defence, but simply could not find a way through their committed ranks. All players put their all into the cause, with converted wing Stuart Morrison doing more than his share, as did his elder brother Colin.

Something had to give, as wave after wave of Crieff attacks were repelled. The Crieff centre took a ball in the centre of the pitch and weaved his way through numerous missed tackles – the first such series on both sides – and off loaded to his centre partner on a more direct route, who crossed the line under the posts. The conversion was successful, leaving the score Garioch 13, Crieff 10.

Nervous whispers ran round the crowd, but thankfully this did not transfer to the pitch, as the Garioch players, buoyed by the entrance to the fray of father figure Neil Morrison, marshaled their ranks and held out for much needed, and much relieved, victory, to lift the team of the bottom of the table.

Man of the match, on a day when there was not a single failure, went to Ev Donaghue for his first Garioch try. He also put in a decent shift when out of position at scrum half – at least he now knows why the scrum half does not always get the ball where it should be.

Garioch's next game is another home fixture. Unfortunately they do not get any easier, with third placed Glenrothes the visitors on Saturday (September 27) at 3pm.

This means that in their first five games, Garioch have played five of the top seven teams in the league. They have proved they can do it once, so get behind your local rugby team on Saturday and spur them on to another victory.