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A bullish Strathaven rugby team comprehensively outplayed an untidy Arran side on Saturday afternoon at the Ormidale Park in Brodick.
In a disastrous start, Arran found themselves 7-0 down after only 25 minutes as they were unable to cope with the pace of the Strathaven backs.
The home team had a number of early chances at the try line but were unable to get there as the Strathaven team held them back.
Spreading the ball from right to left Arran were able to make good ground into Strathaven 22 before quickly recycling the ball and moving it the full width of the pitch - but it wasn’t enough.
Immediately after the restart, Strathaven were again on the attack and pressuring the Arran line.
For a number of minutes Arran battled valiantly on their goal-line forcing a number of turnovers but their inability to clear their lines meant another Strathaven try looked inevitable. The Strathaven backs obliged again as they cut through the Arran defence on the left and raced clear to score a second try with barely five minutes of the first half left.
A missed conversion made the score 12-0.
Arran performed better in the second half but the visitors dominated possession and territory meaning Arran were unable to make any meaningful attacks and never came close to scoring.
Strathaven scored in the first ten minutes of the second half taking the points total to 19-0.
Strathaven were dominant in all aspects of the game with Arran unable to claim clean line-out ball and struggling to get any forward momentum.
Their one chance of the second half came when Robbie McDonald made ground down the left wing thanks to a break from Lachlan Jones but the apparent overlap was soon closed down by the sharp Strathaven backs and Robbie was bundled into touch.
Lachlan and Murray Picken upped their pace with a number of breaks down the pitch but neither were able to reach the line.
Arran can take heart from the way they defended for large portions of the game given the amount of possession and territory Strathaven had but know they have to work hard over the coming weeks, with vast improvements required if they want to keep up their usual standard.
Arran don’t play again now until Saturday 20 February when they will travel to the mainland to take on Strathaven at their home ground.
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