Rugby: Clark shines as Lasswade see off Irvine in fine style

Neil Clark was the star of the show on the first weekend of the National League rugby season, grabbing four tries as Lasswade defeated Irvine 53-3.

The thumping win at Marress puts Lasswade top of National One with scrum-half Clark leading the way with his four scores, while prop Dale Robertson scored a beauty when he galloped in from the halfway line.

Others on the score sheet included Dylan Turnbull, Rick McKenna and Gavin Sharp.

Elsewhere in National One all the other local sides went down to away defeats.

Edinburgh University battled hard before going down to promoted side Greenock Wanderers 29-20, RHC Cougars lost 23-16 at Garnock, East Kilbride defeated Murrayfield Wanderers 20-13 and Linlithgow were on the wrong end of a 44-17 score line up at Ellon.

With Lasswade and Ellon both having secured comfortable wins the match between the two at Hawthornden this coming Saturday should be a cracker in what is shaping up to be quite an open division.

Ross High's travels from Tranent to Orkney did not end well with the East Lothian side falling to a 40-15 defeat at Pickaquoy against last season's Caledonia One champions in National Three.

North Berwick started life in the division with a bang with a superb 49-5 win over Cambuslang at Recreation Park, while Preston Lodge and Forrester both also chalked up home wins.

Preston Lodge were on fire at the Pennypit, defeating Helensburgh 46-17, with Forrester fighting hard to see off Gordonians 16-10 in the Capital.