1st XV
As President Bill Fauld’s programme notes stated, the league table doesn’t lie, so despite a series of positive early season performances, Falkirk needed a result against a PL side which beat them home and away last season.

The home side started with vigour and control, which they maintained for virtually the entire match and which was rewarded after just five minutes when Falkirk’s forwards made good yards in the centre, before the ball was released wide and centre Connor Faulds stepped inside his opposite number, before accelerating away from the chasing defenders to cross in the corner for the opening score.

Only three minutes later, Falkirk consolidated their early advantage with anther fine try. Collecting a PL kick deep in their own half, they broke through the first-up tackles and the mobile second-row Duncan Scobbie and centre Connor Faulds exchanged several passes before Faulds scored under the posts for a converted try.

Both sides were displaying good handling in the damp conditions, but Preston Lodge’s big pack were getting little change out of an aggressive Falkirk defensive line and were turned over at a vital moment, when they had possession deep in the Falkirk 22. The PL backline were not faring any better in possession and were frequently forced to kick for territory under Falkirk’s defensive pressure.

In 18 minutes, a Falkirk lineout led to a driving maul from which the ball was offloaded to scrum half Harry Russell, who beat the last defender to score under the posts for another converted try.

By now, the Behind the Wall Man of the Match, stand-off Fionn Call, was managing the game with some astute kicking, regularly pinning Preston Lodge back in their own 22.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first, with early Falkirk pressure resulting in a penalty which was kicked to the corner and from the resulting lineout, Captain Stewart McCulloch finished off the catch and drive to secure Falkirk 4-try bonus point.

In the 47th minute, flanker Marko Mladenovic completed Falkirk’s scoring with a try from close range after some excellent multi-phase pick and go work from the pack. Fionn Call kicked the conversion to make it 31:0. To Preston Lodge’s credit, they never gave up and with only a couple of minutes left, they secured a consolation score, as their forwards went over from close range after winning two penalties on the Falkirk line.
As they head to Dumfries next week for their fixture against the table topping Saints, Falkirk should take a great deal of confidence from what was perhaps their most complete 80-minute performance for the past three seasons.

Mighty 3's
The 3's, supported by some 2nd XV players wanting to stretch the legs took on Dunfermline Knights at Dunfermline. The Knights were strong in numbers, with a squad of 27 including 10 debutants.

In wet and muddy conditions Falkirk controlled the game winning comfortably 22-45, with Lewis McKay, usually a No.8 switching to 12 scoring 2, assisting one and even hitting a conversion.

Kelpies Girls
The u14 Kelpies Girls played away to Stirling County on Sunday playing round robin games against Perthshire, Stirling and Dunfermline. Strong performances from all the girls was them winners in all 4 of their games.