I Wasn't There, But, It Looked Bad On Television

IN MY last post, I had nice things to say about Nigel Owens and Wayne Barnes. Of course, in life, for every positive, such as me praising referees, there has to be a negative.

 Max Boyce - had his views on blind Irish referees

In this case, we need to speak, sadly yet again, about the Dublin refereeing Murphyia – or, as Max Boyce dubbed them over 30-year ago - “blind Irish referees”. Not that John Lacey is totally blind, he just, as he demonstrated in Llanelli on Saturday night, has selective vision. He chose to see Edinburgh infringing, but didn't see the Scarlets commuting the same offences.

Such as John Lacey

Now, before the Boyos from Blaenau Ffestiniog, Bridgend and Bedwas get on their high horses – even if, by some miracle, Lacey had been in any way competent, Scarlets would still, in my view, have won. But, if he had done his job competently, their margin of victory would not have been as great as it was.

SELKIRK'S 87-3 win over basement boys FALKIRK, at Philiphaugh on Saturday took them above EDINBURGH ACADEMICALS to the top of National League 1. The top two maintained their record of posting a bonus-point win, each time out, to lead the table from GALA. The Braw Lads have also gone four from four, but have one bonus-point fewer to show for their efforts. GHA are in fourth place.

At the foot of the table, Falkirkare still pointless, with STEWART'S-MELVILLE and MUSSELBURGH, like the bottom side - still looking for that elusive first win - above them by virtue of having each collected a couple of bonus points.

IN National League 2, DUMFRIES SAINTS confirmed their challenge by winning the game of the day in the division, the clash with KIRKCALDY, who arrived at Park Farm as league leaders, but departed on the wrong end of a 31-24 defeat, their first of the campaign, but, with the small consolation of a losing bonus-point. The Saints are now five points clear at the top, while Kirkcaldy hold a one-point lead over HAMILTON, with BIGGAR a further point away in fourth. Pointless ABERDEENSHIRE prop up the table, having lost every game so far.

NATIONAL League 3 continues to be led by new boys NEWTON STEWART, who maintained their record of four straight bonus-point wins with a 0-7 home win over HADDINGTON. GLASGOW ACADEMICALS trail Newton only on points difference, after they too posted their fourth straight bonus-point win, thrashing DALZIEL 61-15 at New Anniesland. The clubs from eighth to twelfth are all still waiting for their first victory, with Dalziel and HILLHEAD-JORDANHILL at least having claimed two and one bonus points respectively, while HADDINGTON, PERTHSHIRE and ORKNEY do not even have that minor compensation for their poor start.

HAWICK HARLEQUINS are leading the way in East Region Division 1, bouncing back from last week's loss at DUNS, to beat LINLITHGOW 31-10; their bonus-point win taking them above FORRESTER, the only unbeaten team in the league, who went four from four with a 24-16 home win over LIVINGSTON.

BARNTON'S storming start to Division 2 continued with a storming 77-3 win at LISMORE. The (whisper it) Royal High guys, are certainly showing the way in entertaining rugby, averaging 89 points per game so far, and having a positive points difference of 399 after their great start. Barnton are two points clear of similarly-unbeaten LANGHOLM, who beat PENICUIK 45-10. Third-placed ROSS HIGH are also unbeaten, after putting 43 points on INVERLEITH. Something will have to give on Saturday, when Langholm travel to Tranent to face Ross.

IN WEST Division 1, the top three – ALLAN GLEN'S, CARRICK and GARNOCK are all unbeaten, with bonus points separating them, Glens have four from four games, Carrick three and Garnock two.

On Saturday, Glens beat EAST KILBRIDE 55-27, Carrick thumped IRVINE 56-8, while Garnock had a 22-6 home win over GREENOCK WANDERERS. KILMARNOCK, after last week's loss to East Kilbride, got back to winning ways with a 48-24 win over STEWARTRY at Bellsland, lie fourth.

DIVISION 2 is now led by CUMNOCK, who continued their unbeaten start to the campaign with a 42-17 Broomfield win over UDDINGSTON.

Cumnock on the attack against Uddingston

picture courtesy of GBR Photography 

Previous leaders PAISLEY saw their scheduled match with MILLBRAE, called-off, thereby allowing Cumnock to overtake them. These two are the only unbeaten clubs in this highly-competitive division. Paisley lead CUMBERNAULD on points difference.

BISHOPTON and GLASGOW UNIVERSITY MEDICS continue to set the pace in West Division 3. Both clubs have won four straight games, with a bonus point accrued each time out. On Saturday, Bishopton won 45-0 at LANARK, while the Medics had a 58-33 win over near-neighbours HYNDLAND.

THE CALEDONIA League, Division 1 has a new leader, after CAITHNESS made home advantage pay in the battle of the top two, to beat previous leaders ALLOA 43-15. The bonus point enabled the men from the far north of the mainland to take a one point lead at the top.

HILLFOOTS and BLAIRGOWRIE, are the pace-setters in Midland Division 2, 'Foots' lead by virtue of having posted a bonus-point win each time out, while 'Gowrie missed out once. The two leaders were in voracious mood on Saturday, 'Gowrie putting 78 points without reply against hosts MORGAN ACADEMY. Hillfoots also did well on unfamiliar turf, beating STIRLING COUNTY III 55-3 at Bridgehaugh.

UNBEATEN ELLON continued on their unbeaten way in North Division 2, beating ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY MEDICS 39-19. Ellon have a five-point lead over MORAY, who travelled to RAF LOSSIEMOUTH on Saturday and shot down their hosts with a 14-10 win.

MIDLANDS Division 3 is led by WAID ACADEMY FP, from ARBROATH and ROSYTH SHARKS. All three clubs are unbeaten so far, and have yet to fail to garner a bonus point, but, Waid have played one game more, which had given them their five-point advantage at the top.

KINLOSS EAGLES are still soaring above their rivals in North Division 3. They made it four bonus-point point wins from four games on Saturday with a 26-12 win at GORDONIANS II. The chasing pack is led by ABERDEENSHIRE II, NORTH POLICE SCOTLAND and INVERNESS CRAIG DUNAIN, who are five points adrift of the pace-setters.