A BUOYANT Ardrossan Accies under 15 team completed an undefeated run in the West of Scotland Development league, culminating in them winning the tournament after a final match against the Renfrewshire Raiders on Sunday January 16.

Months of hard work, dedicated training and an exemplary attitude from the boys, saw them take the league in style with a 31-7 victory played at Bishopton RFC.

In a tough, attritional encounter, the Accies matched their opponent’s physicality then proceeded to dominate them at the scrums and breakdowns.

A famous rugby adage suggests that “forwards win matches, the backs simply decide by how much,” and this couldn’t have been more true with Keir Henderson’s and LJ Hales’ destructive tackling.

Along with their hard-working forwards team mates, they paved the way for some very neat tries from the backs, with Jamie McIlroy, Ciaran Livingstone, Calum Sweenie and Tom Monaghan taking the game out of the Raiders reach.

Man of the match Ronnie Robertson sweetly sealed the victory with a well-taken try after chasing his own kick downfield and harassing the covering defence.

Players, parents and coaches alike, were naturally delighted with the conclusion to the league and now look forward to the cup competition that runs through winter and spring.

An away trip to Biggar RFC in the borders awaits next week.

The 2021/22 league winning squad was: Brodie Turnbull, Jack Coutts, Mason Boyd, Caleb Smith, Sam Walton, Keir Henderson, Cameron Lynn, Louis Bulloch, Kyle Borrie, LJ Hales, Adam Bainbridge, Brandon Dekker, Lochay Forbes, Jamie McIlroy, Tom Monaghan, Ronnie Robertson, Connor McFadyen, Connor Welsh, Ciaran Livingstone, Harris McNicholl, Callum Barton, Calum Sweenie.