After a series of close defeats, Clydebank 1st XV finally put a team to the sword and ran out worthy winners as Paisley were beaten 26-12 at The Anchor ground on Saturday.

Clydebank’s 'Remo' connection combined to secure a bonus point victory as Shearer, Moore and McLintock contributed to two 2 finely taken tries got the visitors the 5 pointer and a confidence boosting win.

Paisley took an early 6six-point lead as full back Euan Stuart knocked over two2 penalty goals.

It took The Red and Blacks a while to find their feet as they were loose and scrappy in possession and Paisley were winning the early breakdown battle.

They got on the scoresheet when, after a strong driving maul, that looked strong enough to cross the line but Joe Moore broke away and crossed the whitewash with a powerful run. Jack McCombe missed the conversion.

Clydebank’s poor discipline allowed Stuart to add regain the lead with 2two more penalties.

As Clydebank regained their composure and cut out the mistakes, they levelled the game with a great try. Burgoyne made the initial break and Moore followed up with a bulldozing run. The ball was fed out to the left where Craig Shearer found himself in the unusual position on the wing and he finished off in the corner, with McCombe converting to make it 12-12 all at half-time.

Paisley dominated possession at the start of the second half, but Bank's tenacious defence snuffed them out.

The visitors were more composed with ball in hand and McCombe started to pin back the home side with long clearance kicks and started to look the more dangerous side. As Paisley attacked down the left, they kicked the ball straight into Bank winger Miller’s hands;and he fed David McLintock and the flying full back out paced the defence to score in the corner. and McCombe converted.

Clydebank’s Dougie Vallance received lengthy treatment after a crunching Paisley tackle in the air resulted in spinal and shoulder injuries. With Vallance receiving treatment and the medical team unable to move him, the game was moved on to Paisley’s 2nd team pitch.

Clydebank’s ageless Ross McCombe replaced Vallance in the unfamiliar position of winger to take the field alongside his son Jack.

It was at this stage of the game that Clydebank turned the screw on the hosts and took control of the game. The younger McCombe continued to put Paisley on the back foot with well-placed kicking and the Bank defence was strong and aggressive, forcing Paisley mistakes. McLintock got his second try of the day, after a sweeping break by Warden and then again by Moore.

The ball was passed out to the right and the Miller-McLintock axis combined again with Miller feeding the fullback with a great pass under intense Paisley pressure to send his team mate over in the right corner from 20 metres. McCombe converted and Bank were able to shut out the home side for the rest of the game to win the game 26-12.

Thankfully the injuries to Vallance were not as serious as first feared and he will make a full recovery. Clydebank would like to pass on thanks to the Paisley physio and medical team who made Dougie comfortable and ensured he received the best possible medical treatment available.

The win takes Clydebank up to 5th in the league as they leapfrogged Paisley in the standings and they take on high flying Cumnock at Whitecrok next week. The 2nd XV didn’t have a fixture this weekend but they are also at home to Ardrossan.