Falkirk overcame the best efforts of both a confident Preston Lodge side and Storm Kathleen on Saturday to secure their place in the League Cup Semi-Finals.

A try from Euan Cassells after good work from Glen Faulds, saw Falkirk take an early lead whilst playing into the strong first half headwind. They then put in a tremendous defensive shift, aided by some intelligent kicking suited to the conditions, allowing them to turn the half 5:7 ahead having conceded a single unconverted try following a charged down box kick.

The second half started in much the same way as the first, with Falkirk pressure being converted into points first by Stuart Serafini and then by John McKenna in a 10 minute spell. Both scores were converted. At 5:21 up, we looked comfortable.

PL got a score back whilst benefiting from a penalty advantage in the Falkirk 22, but good captaincy from Lewis Skinner and the accurate boot of Duncan Tompkins kept the blue side of the scoreboard ticking over with two fine wind-assisted penalties from long range. 10:27.

However, by this time injuries had left the Falkirk three-quarter line with something of a make-shift appearance, and PL took advantage by scoring out wide with their 3rd unconverted try to make it 15:27.

A Taylor Paul snipe from close range seemed to have put the game to bed at 15:32 with only 10 mins left, but pressure from the home side on the Falkirk line plus an unnecessary yellow card, gave them encouragement. PL then exploited their numerical advantage to good effect, scoring two well-worked late tries, one with the final play of the game, which ended 27:32.

In truth, despite the closeness of the final score, Falkirk were deserved winners given the overall balance of play and the team, minus several regulars, deserve enormous credit for seeing the game out given all the challenges they faced.

With 2 of the other 3 quarter finals being rescheduled, the 1st XV now have a week off before facing the winner of the Boroughmuir vs. Newton Stewart tie at Horne Park on Saturday 20th April. And with Stirling County playing their rescheduled League Cup tie on April 13th, our final Nat 2. league fixture against them will have to be moved to a date tbc. This will potentially be after the National League Cup Final, which will be held at Murrayfield on Saturday 27th April.