Getting themselves back on the winning trail and putting the last two weeks disappointing narrow defeats firmly behind them, Falkirk emerged victorious in a pretty evenly matched and hard fought encounter,played under lights with a 3.00 p.m. kick-off,against Hamilton Bulls at Laigh Bent.

Taking the initiative Falkirk's positive start saw them quickly go ahead with back-to-back penalty conversions from Liam Brims in the 2nd and 5th minutes respectively. Continuing to maintain the upper hand the Sunnysiders won good territory, for Prop Forward Lewis Skinner to break clear away from a ruck just outside the Bulls 22 metre line and make a determined charge for the try-line. Following up Number 8 Jake Eaglesham took possession, and just as he was dragged down just short of the line he looped the ball over his head into the arms of Lock-Forward Angus Inwood,who then wasted no time at all in crashing over for a 19th minute unconverted try, a great example of offloading at pace by the three guys.

Liam Brims then put Falkirk further ahead with another converted penalty in the 25th minute but the Bulls replied in kind when their Stand-Off Owen Mcleish slotted over his side's sole first half response,four minutes before the end of the half.

HT: Hamilton Bulls 3 vs Falkirk 14.

Getting the better of the visitors from the restart McLeish narrowed their lead with an early 42nd minute penalty conversion for Hamilton but Falkirk struck back in style just four minutes later. Winning clean ball from a scrum in the centre of the park, approximately 35 metres out, Right-Winger Kyle Rowe made an angular break to the corner and following further interplay Full-Back Craig Robertson squeezed in at the corner flag for another unconverted try.

However the Bulls retaliated and showed their mettle, three minutes before the end of the third quarter, when after a period of concerted pressure on Falkirk's five metre line Prop-Forward Yan Young barged over for the touchdown, with McLeish surprisingly missing the conversion. Shortly afterwards Hamilton's Stu Whitelaw was yellow carded for an tip tackle, but the numbers were evened out presently when Eaglesham was adjudged to have late tackled McLeish and he also left the field for ten minutes.

Both teams were going at each other hammer and tong in the last 15mins but messing up some good scoring opportunities, a very entertaining match for the large crowd, many of which were Falkirk supporters who had travelled the short distance to Hamilton to cher their team on. Falkirk came away worthy winners to end 2016 on a high.

FT: Hamilton Bulls 11 vs Falkirk 19

Making their 1xv debuts were youngsters Gregor Ramsay and Gregor Dodd, son of Falkirk President Matt, alas the later sustained a shoulder injury in the first half and had to retire from the field, nevertheless a good debut..

Falkirk Team 1.John McKenna 2.Andrew Gillespie 3.Lewis Skinner 4.Gregor Dodd 5.Angus Inwood 6.Gregor Brodie 7.Andrew McNab 8.Jake Eaglesham 9.Harry Russell[Capt.] 10.Liam Brims 11.Gary Dempsey 12.Andrew Hamilton 13.Angus Rennie 14.Kyle Rowe 15.Craig Robertson Subs.16.Keith Slade 17.Kris Burney 18.David Stoddart 19.Glen Faulds 20.Gregor Ramsay.

Falkirk's next league fixture sees them entertain Dundee H.S.F.P. at Sunnyside on the 7th January of the New Year,kick-off is at 2.00p.m.