LOMOND-Helensburgh’s first XV boss says his side must learn from their weekend result after suffering their first loss of the season.

Riding high in the West Region League Division 3 table, following five wins from five, the team fell to an 18-20 defeat against second-top Glasgow University Medics on Saturday.

Wet and windy conditions made it a challenging home fixture as the squad looked to build on the record club victory, 123-0, over Glasgow Raptors the week before.

According to weather predictions before the match, Storm Amy would force much of Scottish rugby off for the day.

Not so at Ardencaple, as thanks to Tom Caruthers and a small select group of those who decide, it was game on.

A special mention went to the visiting referee from Canada, touring Europe for six months and offering his help en-route. He managed to attend the game with his family from Lochgilphead.

First blood went to the visitors, with a head injury to Lomond-Helensburgh’s Craig Newport and a try to the Medics summing up the first 10 minutes.

There then followed a frantic period, partly fuelled by conditions and partly by injury, but four substitutions were required by the hosts for injury and a yellow card left them depleted in the centre.

(Image: Seventeen Creative)

The Medics took advantage and scored again. At 0-10, the Burgh ship needed steadying and captain Warren Smith took a well-earned penalty from 45 metres out to bring it back.

As half time approached, desire and pride kicked in and new boy Caelan Lang finished a well-worked try in the corner.

The score at the break stood at 8-10.

Turning to face a gale was always going to be a challenge for the home team, so it was not ideal to quickly go 8-15 down. But the boys came back.

They had learned lessons and realised that the game was not one for free-flowing rugby that enjoys width and speed, but more the tuck it up your jumper, grunt and effort.

The latter approach paid off and gradually the scoreline closed to 13-15.

This play was followed by another breakaway from the Medics, who made it 13-20.

But Burgh were not done and a surge from the forwards, led by man of the match Scott Smith and well controlled by the half back pairing of Tom Gray and Warren Smith saw Joel Miller crash over for a third try, taking the final score to 18-20.

First XV manager Scott Smith said: “Whilst we remain at the top of West 3, having played six, won five and lost one, and with a massive points difference of 378, today was a good lesson.

“If we are to go back up, we need to learn, and this was a good lesson.

“There is a great mix of pride and desire in the senior squad and it must be recognised that these are young players in the context of our league.

“The future of green, gold and maroon is bright – get behind them and give them your support.”

Next up for the first team is an away trip to Clydebank on Saturday, October 11.