Solid victory over The Glens
 
After the thrills and spills of the 6 Nations it was back to league duty and 3pm kick offs for Accies as they comfortably beat a tough "Mark Sitch" inspired Allan Glens outfit. The sun was out but it was bitterly cold and a surprisingly stiff breeze made for a potentially tricky outcome if Accies - playing with the breeze in the first half -didn't get enough points on the board early doors.
As it was it took Accies fully 20 minutes to open the scoring as both teams tested each other out but finally a fantastic piece of skill from Stephen O'Donnell opened the scoring. Accies had been awarded a penalty fully 30 metres out, as Stephen started his run up the ball fell over in the breeze. Chippy wasn't fazed and promptly picked the ball up and decided to drop kick the goal instead and the ball sailed through the posts to open the scoring. 3 - 0
 
Accies immediately pressed home their advantage, receiving the kick off the ruck was set up, a high kick from Stephen O'Donnell in the tricky breeze bounced off Allan Glens' full backs shoulder and into the arms of Elliot McLaren, Elliot found Jack Walker in full stride and Jack hit the gas from 30 metres out and made it to the line with three Glens defenders all over him, a great try. 8 - 0
 
It was all Accies by now and Glens were hanging on but Accies weren't to be denied a further Stephen O'Donnell penalty to stretch the lead to 11 - 0 after 30 minutes. Stung by the onslaught, Glens finally got some possession together and got their reward right on half time with a penalty to reduce the deficit to 11 - 3 at Half Time.
 
Accies turned into the breeze for the second half and did a pretty solid job in containing the initial surge from Glens and then regaining control - the interesting sub-plot was watching former Hawks legend - Mark Sitch use all his experience and nous to slow accie ball down, cajole his team mates to greater efforts and snuff out Accie danger by targetting Accies centres. However Accies eventually found the way after 25 minutes as they worked their way upfield moving the ball to the right and quick ball was zipped left down the line and Dougie Horne - back in the first team - had the beating of his winger with a simple inside-out and hand off swerve and zoomed in for the crucial match winning try in the left hand corner. 16 - 3
 
The game was effectively over but there was still time for a late cameo from Mark Sitch. With minutes to go Accies had loosened up and were moving the ball about at will. The old stager read the intention and intercepted a pass, on halfway, that would've sent Dougie Horne on his way again. Mark rolled back the years and bombed off down field and had just enough left in the tank to get over the line for Glens' consolation try.
 
Full Time: 16 - 8 to Accies 
 

This article was posted on 19-Feb-2012, 18:09 by Hugh Barrow.