LANGHOLM can be proud of their performance in defeat at Milntown last Saturday, when they collected a losing bonus point with a much-changed side in a match that counted for nothing except pride.
A number of regulars were missing from the home side due to a pool of players away to the Gala sevens.
But those who stepped in gave a determined display in an entertaining match.
Ellon had a chance with an early penalty, but fly-half Mark Ryan missed the rather easy kick.
However, the visitors did go ahead after 23 minutes when Langholm full-back Callum McSkeen was caught in two minds.
After endeavouring to run out of defence he tried to clear, but the kick was charged down and Ellon hooker Jack Calvert scored, with Ryan adding the conversion.
A jinking run by home fly-half Keith Davidson took play into the Ellon 22 and after a period of forward pressure hooker Stephen Devlin secured a try when the pack surged over near the corner. Jardine missed the difficult conversion, but the homesters were 8-7 ahead at the break.
Jardine and Davidson kept Langholm in the visitors’ half with good positional kicks and constructed running attacks, and although the former missed a penalty, he was on target shortly after to stretch the lead.
A powerful run by the Ellon backs brought a touchdown for centre Kyle Bayliss which Ryan converted, and Langholm were now trailing.
Ryan then burst up the touchline for a visitors’ try, which he failed to convert, but it was now 11-19 with seven minutes remaining.
Langholm took a penalty kick to the corner and from the resultant lineout possession made a number of powerful surges at the line, which eventually led to prop Jason Ratcliffe getting the touchdown.
Jardine added the extras on the final whistle.
Langholm: C. McSkeen; R. Mackay, B. Wilson, C. Jardine, C. Davidson; K. Davidson, C. Hislop, J. Ratcliffe, S. Devlin, M. McGimpsey, C. Little, C. Davidson, L. Miller, J. Reid, G. Brannan. Subs: M. Rose, L. Maxwell, S. Kitching.