Unfortunately Falkirk's run of five straight league victories in a row came to an abrupt end as they went down by four tries to two against a very much 'in your faces' Marr side at the Fullarton Estate Troon last weekend.

Striking early Marr's Inside-Centre Colin Sturgeon converted an early fourth minute penalty. Falkirk gradually worked themselves into the game with some good phases of play, which saw them open their account at the end of the first quarter of play. Forcing Marr back into their 22 metre area Falkirk firstly probed on the far side of the pitch before the ball was swept across the back division to the other side and from the ensuing ruck Lock-Forward Craig Hamilton peeled off and paved the way for Left-Winger Gary Dempsey to crash over for a well-worked team try which Stand-Off Liam Brims promptly converted.

However without any shadow of a doubt, the turning point of the game came just eight minutes later when Marr were on the attack on midfield before knocking on and what looked like a completely accidental collision off the ball a theatrical swan dive and roll from the recipient and the reaction from the partisan home supporters arguably influenced the referee and touch judge into yellow-carding Falkirk's Captain Harry Russell. Four minutes later the home side capitalised on the extra man when Right-Winger Scott Bickerstaff finally breached Falkirk's defence with an unconverted try and very shortly afterwards Marr's Number 8 punched a hole for Conor Bickerstaff to take advantage of by barging over for the touchdown, with Sturgeon adding the two points. Just at the end of the half there was more controversy as during another Marr attack there was a blatant elbow to the face on a Falkirk defender which the touch judge picked up on and held out his flag. However by the time he had got the referee's attention a penalty had been awarded to Marr and annoyingly for the visitors after consultation the penalty was allowed to stand and Sturgeon duly converted.

HT: Marr 18 vs Falkirk 7

Sturgeon and Brims traded penalties in the 45th and 49th minutes respectively before Brims banged over another three-pointer for Falkirk just seven minutes later. Alas Marr increased their lead near the end of the third quarter when their Flanker Kyle Valance crashed over from a five metre ruck, which Sturgeon converted and presently from a very similar scenario Marr's pack of forwards again got the upper hand when they added a further try from a rolling maul. During this time Falkirk were again reduced to 14 when the assistant referee ruled Liam Brims had used a shoulder in the tackle!

To their credit Falkirk contested the match to the final whistle and from a late surge Flanker Stewart McCulloch stormed over near the uprights for an unconverted try.

FT: Marr 33 vs Falkirk 18

Falkirk Team 1.Lewis Skinner 2.Andrew Simpson 3.Keith Slade 4.Craig Hamilton 5.David Stoddart 6.Stewart McCulloch 7.Angus Inwood 8.Jake Eaglesham 9.Harry Russell[Capt.] 10.Liam Brims 11.Gary Dempsey 12.Simon Rolleston 13.Graham Gilliland 14.Jacob Adamson 15.Angus Rennie Subs.16.John McKenna 17.Kris Burney 18.Marko Mladenovic 19.Andrew Hamilton 20.Kyle Rowe.

This Week Falkirk face an even sterner task when they entertain currently unbeaten league leaders Jedforest at Sunnyside,Kick-Off is at 3.00 p.m.