PRESTON Lodge recovered from a poor start to record a much-needed away win at Hillhead-Jordanhill on Saturday

The home side kicked off at Hughenden, former home of the Glasgow Warriors, and had the better of the opening exchanges, with Mark Steedman’s visitors struggling to get into the match. Jonny Clipstone broke the visitors’ defence as early as the second minute, only to be denied by a fine covering tackle by Greig Walker, while Paddy Cooney repeated the feat just five minutes later to keep the hosts at bay.

Walker had to come to PL’s rescue for a second time when AJ MacFarlane put Richie Graham away, only for the covering full-back to stop the move with a third possible Hills try going amiss.

The Hughenden crowd had to wait 25 minutes for the opening try, and few inside the ground would have expected the county side to be the scorers. Jonathan Brash combined with Walker and Cooney, strong running taking him through the heart of the Hills defence to touch down. McMann converted to give PL a 0-7 lead.

After a stalemate opening 25 minutes, there was a second try in as many minutes as Hills struck back. Good work by the pack took them close to the line, allowing Thomson to dive over from close range, while MacFarlane converted.

In what was becoming a hugely entertaining second quarter, PL struck back once more, Paul Glynn going over five minutes before half-time, with McMann converting.

Those at Hughenden would have felt a sense of deja vu as Hills went over almost straight from the kick-off, but a missed conversion meant PL led by two points at the break.

As was the case in the first half, Hills started the second period strongly and they were able to make their dominance tell at the beginning of the second half as they went over for a third try, again unconverted, to take the lead.

The Glasgow side led until the superb Walker got on the end of a sweeping team move for the visitors and dived over to score the winner. They held out the remainder of the match, to return home with a hard-earned four points.

Steedman’s side will need to be at their best on Saturday as they are on the road again, second-place Falkirk their destination this time.

Preston Lodge: J Brash, P Glynn, G Walker, A Whittingham, P Cooney; T McMann, D Gordon; C Arthur, P Johnstone, N Hart, R Runciman, N Whittingham, A Horne, C Dixon, J Riley.