A large home crowd watched Helensburgh Rugby Club confirm their survival in the West District First Division with a 31-23 victory over fourth placed Oban.

It was Burgh's third win in a row and they have turned on the style when the pressure was on during the run in.

The away side started well and were given a penalty on the 22 which was slotted to make it 0–3 after 20 minutes.

Burgh were quick to respond and from a lineout deep in their own half, flanker Phil Rogers charged up field taking the Grizzlies to the visitors' 22. Oban then gave away the penalty and quick thinking by centre Scott Simmons saw him take the quick tap to dance over the line for the try. Converted by stand off Ram it was 7–3 with 28 minutes gone.

Burgh were now pressuring the Oban line and another break by flanker Rogers saw him take the ball up to Oban’s 10 meter line where more superb play by Helensburgh’s forwards saw scrum half Harris pass out to Number 8 Andy Inglis who went over in the corner to take it to 12–3.

Oban came back after untidy play by the Grizzlies saw them giving away another kickable penalty which was well taken to make the score 12–6.

Winger Craig Bowman made a surging run through the Oban backs getting the ball out to captain and centre Ally Rogers who popped the ball to fellow centre Simmons for his second try.

Successfully converted by Ram, the Grizzlies went in at half time 19 – 6 up.

Into the second half a superb backs move saw centre Rogers fly over the line for the try to take the score to 24–6 on 50 minutes.

However Oban had other ideas and their pack continued to smash there way upfield against brave Burgh defence. On 60 minutes a scrum on the Grizzlies 5 metre line saw Oban sling the ball out to their winger who went over for the try to take it to 24–11.

Seven minutes later, more pressure from Oban saw them take the ball over the line for another try. Again, unconverted, this took the score to 24–16 making the home crowd very nervous.

Burgh bounced back and on 74 minutes good work by centre Simmons saw him put flanker Johnny Gibson over for the try much to the relief of the home crowd and converted again by Ram, it was now 31–16 to the Grizzlies with time running out for Oban.

To the credit of the visitors, in the dying moments of the game, again they continued to through themselves at Burgh resulting in another well worked try by their forwards and with the score now at 31 – 23 time was now on Helensburgh’s side and the referee blew the whistle for full time.

Silvers man of the match went to second row Kane Greiggan, sponsored by Patricia Rey.

Helensburgh’s final game of the season is at home against fellow relegation fighters Garnock on the April 30 at 3pm.