This weekend was no exception, with 11 first team players unavailable. Players were pulled on for their first game of the season and it was with a bit of trepidation that the game kicked off. With driving rain and a strong wind to play into Mackie were soon under extreme pressure. Not finding touch with a clearance kick left the Madras winger in a good place to counterattack. Amazingly he went past 7 people to score a great try under the posts. This was duly converted Mackie 0 Madras 7.
Ten minutes later after a series of missed tackles, Madras again swung the ball wide and their full back ran in for an unconverted try. Mackie 0 Madras 12. Things did not look good and Mackie also lost their young prop James Sadio who came off injured.
The tempo of the game started to change with Mackie forwards and backs starting to dominate their opposite numbers. As the first half came to an end Mackie were pressing pretty well continuously but as the whistle went they were unable to break through. From the kick off a great carry by Ewan Johnstone carried Mackie well in to the opposition half.
Cameron Gray who stood in at the 11th hour at stand off was starting to put in some great kicks to give his side good territorial position. A concerted series of plays saw Mackie forwards pressing on the Madras line. From yet another good position, Hamish Hamilton flipped the ball up to Ross Clyne who charged through the remaining defence to give Mackie their first score. It went unconverted Mackie 5 Madras 12.
As Mackie upped the tempo, there was a set back as Martin Cooper went to the sin bin for 10 minutes. If anything, however it seemed to galvanise the Mackie forwards. Some great rucking saw the ball fed wide to Ewan Johnstone who drew his man and slipped the ball to Paul Cullion on the wing. He set off on a run that has become a bit of a trademark and beat several individuals to score a great try.
With 5 minutes to go Mackie were awarded a penalty about thirty yards out which was coolly converted by Hamilton who had turned in one of his best games since joining the club. The final whistle went giving Mackie a great win in adversity. Special mention must go to John Cullion and Martin Cooper who really stuck to their task well and turned out for the club for the first time this season. Also Stuart Lawson and Ewan Johnstone who showed welcome returns to form. But to be fair it was a great team effort that had everyone well pumped up at the end of the game.
Hopefully some of the injuries will clear in the next week or two

Team: I Carruthers, P Cullion, S Lawson, S Neil, M Coull, C Gray, H Hamilton, R Clyne, A King, J Sadio, C ingles, J Cullion, C Goldsworthy E Johnstone, C Thompson, A Pollock, M Cooper, F Gray