Commencing their league campaign on an extremely high note a particularly devastating and first class second half display from Falkirk just completely overwhelmed Howe of Fife at Duffus Park,Cupar last Saturday afternoon. With the pitch in immaculate order and the clubs, beautifully restored stand and brand new clubhouse facilities as a backdrop Falkirk took the field knowing that previous fixtures here had traditionally been very close run affairs indeed.

Taking the bull by the horns Falkirk made good use of early possession and from a ruck in the bottom right hand corner of the pitch Scrum-Half Harry Russell broke blind before Right-Winger Jacob Adamson took possession and squirmed his way over in the corner for a 9th minute unconverted try. However the Fifers countered just two minutes later with a converted penalty from their Stand-Off Cameron Ellison and very shortly afterwards a determined surge from the home side, coupled with some weak Falkirk defence saw Chris Mann get the ball down near the corner flag for a well executed try. One minute into the second quarter Stand-Off Liam Brims converted a penalty for Falkirk but Ellison replied in kind for H.o.F. only two minutes later.

Regrouping well though, Falkirk closed off the half with two finely engineered tries,the first coming from an incisive attack from the back division deep inside the Fifer's 22 metre area when Inside-Centre Simon Rolleston flipped an inside pass to fellow centre Andrew Hamilton who then charged in under the posts untouched in the 33rd minute and with only three minutes of the half remaining a break from Adamson on Howe's 22 metre line saw him make good ground before kicking ahead and winning the race for the touchdown in the corner, with Brims converting both tries for a half time lead

HT: Howe of Fife 11 v Falkirk 22.

Clicking into gear Falkirk commenced the second period of play absolutely determined to cut out any previous mistakes or errors of judgement as Brims converted an early 44th minute penalty conversion. Putting together some telling phases of play Falkirk were then awarded a five metre scrum about fifteen metres in from the touchline and following a good drive from the forwards, Number 8 Jake Eaglesham picked up from the base of the scrum and crashed over for an unconverted try in the 55th minute.

Brims presently converted another penalty for the visitors very shortly before Harry Russell showed his magic by scoring back to back tries within eight minutes of one another. His first came about from a crash ball on midway when he snapped up the ball from the ensuing ruck and totally outstripped the Fifers' defenders by dashing almost half the length of the field for a magnificent try. With almost ten minutes of the match remaining, following an awesome rolling maul from the forwards, Russell took control and jinked his way through from close in for his brace of tries. Incredibly in the closing minutes another incisive dash up the touchline by that same man looked he was going to notch up his hat-trick, but as he was grounded just short Adamson was at hand for the try. The boot was on the other foot for Adamson on the 80th minute when he was brought down short only for Gregor Brodie to be up in support for the final try of the afternoon. Brims converted three out of Falkirk's five second half tries.

FT: Howe of Fife 11 v Falkirk 59

Falkirk Team 1.Kris Burney 2.Keith Slade 3.Lewis Skinner 4.Stewart McCulloch 5.Craig Hamilton 6.Angus Inwood 7.Marko Mlandenovic 8.Jake Eaglesham 9.Harry Russell[Capt.] 10.Liam Brims 11.Angus Rennie 12.Simon Rolleston 13. Graham Gilliland 14.Jacob Adamson 15.Craig Robertson. Subs.16.Andrew Gillespie 17.Gregor Brodie 18.Duncan Scobbie 19.Andrew Hamilton 20.Martin Hall.

This Week Falkirk are at home where they face Hamilton Bulls. Kick Off is at 3.00 p.m.