Lasswade 17 - 7 Greenock Wanderers: McWilliam gives Lasswade the perfect leaving gift

AFTER helping to inspire Lasswade to their first Murrayfield success on Saturday, playmaker Carl McWilliam insisted he was calling it quits this time.

The New Zealander came to Scotland 11 years ago from Dunedin and was a key part of the Watsonians team that lifted the Scottish Cup in 2005-6. He was also a driving force behind Murrayfield Wanderers rising to the Premiership arena, but at each of those clubs he has announced his retirement. And then Lasswade came calling on the 35-year-old.

"They had a guy lined up for this season who pulled out and so needed some help," he explained, "so I said I would fill the gap for a few weeks. And now it's led to this, and I have to say it's been pretty special. It's just as good as winning the cup with Watsonians."

McWilliam opened the scoring with a penalty but Greenock hit back with skipper David Watson leading the charge from full-back with terrific counter-attacking running and it led to a try by Antony Devlin, and converted by the stand-off. McWilliam put Lasswade back in front just after half-time with two penalties and the game was sealed by the man of the match, Lasswade winger Kyle Smith. First he held on in a last-ditch tackle to deny Watson a try and then he kicked clear from his 22 and chased the kick upfield. The ball bounced away from two defenders and into his arms. Smith's pace did the rest from 40 metres out and though he missed the conversion, McWilliam added a penalty to douse the Greenock flame.

The stand-off runs his own business, Rugby Tots, which introduces nursery-age children to the sport, and after leaving the pitch shattered at the end, he added: "It has been great to be part of this season with Lasswade because they are a great club and deserve this success, but that's me done now. Definitely. It's back to the tots – that's about my pace now."

Scorers.

Lasswade: Try - Smith; Pens - McWilliam 4.

Greenock Wanderers: Try - Devlin; Con - Devlin.

TEAMS

Lasswade: N Murray; K Smith, J Elliot, B Hennessey, N Gray; C McWilliam, N Clark; C Adam, D Turnbull, M Billingham (capt), D Robertson, D Grant, R Borthwick, C Quigley, D Hearn. Subs: S Brown, B McGregor, P Robinson, G Cook, G Sharp, R Gladstone, A Elliot.

Greenock Wanderers: D Watson; B McGroarty, K Smith, D Murray, L Tyley; A Devlin, A MacDougall; D Smith, A McMichael, M Lavelle, M Gray, A Abernethy, M Duncan, G Mooney, C Robb. Subs: J McArthur, R Lavelle, C Clark, J Stewart, S Connolly, G Fletcher, I Forster.

Ref: G Gordon.