Today saw Accies rise from the ashes of last week’s “do-ing” to claim an impressive and much needed victory on New Anniesland’s hallowed turf. The score line finished a healthy 50 - 3, but please pardon this scribe for noting the glaring irony that it was on this very day that Mundhir III, King of the Lakhmids (Arab Christians), successfully raided Palaestina, Salutaris and Arabia Petraea in the year 503. Whilst this game of rugby was by no means a holy war (not that I am aware of anyway), the verb “raid” is loosely appropriate.

On a crisp, winter’s afternoon the “Accies Loyal” shuffled their way to the stands, fully expecting the boys to make a mends for the unpleasantness of the preceding week. The team did not disappoint. It took Accies only 3 minutes to cross the Alan Glens line, and it was no surprise that our leading try scorer Robert Beattie was the man claiming the first points. Some swift handling across the back line deep in the Accies half led to a burst up the left wing by Gus MacCallum, who then fed the ball inside to Beattie. Showing shades of a young Stewart Smith, Beattie then gracefully side stepped the full back to cross in the corner. 5 – 0.

Shortly thereafter, the men from Bishopbriggs were to claim what was ultimately their only points of the game with a penalty kick in the 5th minute. 5 – 3.

Accies then went on to dominate both territory and possession for a period before the deadlock was once again broken in the 25th minute and Craig “Nifty” Wright popped up, seemingly from nowhere. to touch down under the posts, following a surging run up the left wing by Jamie Williamson. 12 - 3.

Glens then took the initiative from the kick-off, dominating the following period,and showed signs of what has made them the club they are are. Some strong ball carrying and well placed kicks kept the Annieslanders at bay until the 35th minute when that man Beattie once again added to the visiting side’s woes. Some exciting interplay between backs and forwards led to a pop pass to the young south sider, who grasped the opportunity to take his second try. 17 – 3.

Naturally assuming that this was the final activity of the half, conversation on the side line turned to drinks orders and questions over Andy Brown’s hair cut. But, quicker than you could say “Justin Beiber, Accies added to their tally with a try in the last minute of added time: Jamie Williamson’s power proved the decisive factor once again as he surged down the side line to feed that man Beattie for an impressive first half hat trick. Half time score, 24 – 3.

Now this Accies team has been guilty for a number of seasons of taking the foot off the gas in such scenarios, but Head Coach Davey Wilson took the opportunity at the break to remind the boys that the “job” in hand was only half completed. Today’s game was an opportunity to banish the demons of Troon, and simply holding on to this healthy but not insurmountable lead would not be good enough.

[As a side note, an unexpected visit from Strathclyde Police at half time prompted some side line debate as to the reason behind their enquiry. Perfectly plausible suggestions ranged from “they’re here for the ref”, from an Allan Glen’s supporter, to a recent incident in BBQ Kings. There was even a suggestion that the aforementioned hair cut was worthy of a custodial sentence however club members will be pleased to hear that it was a false alarm…..Andy Brown’s hair cut does however remain at large.]

To the credit of the visiting team it took Accies a full 15 minutes in the second half to notch up another try and this was well taken by our captain-elect who put in a (joint) man of the match performance. Finding himself in the backline, Beaver showed just why he got that Glasgow Schools Under 15’s trial in 1996, with some inventive interplay with the backs, leading to a burst under the posts and a touchdown by Dracula. This took the score to 31 – 3. Beaver never made the Glasgow Schools team by the way. Ever.

Jamie Williamson’s hard work was rewarded with 2 tries in the last quarter. The first resulting from a long pass from Beattie, and the second coming from an inside pass from Captain Beaver. Both were scored in the right hand corner and both relied upon Jamie’s power and determination to bulldoze his opposite man but his brace took the scoreboard to 45 – 3.

The final score of the game perfectly summed up Accies approach to this match: displaying admirable urgency at such a late stage in the proceedings, scrum half Ben Semple took a quick tap penalty around the half way line; Accies players were positively falling over one another to receive the next pass, but it was Bobby Beattie who ultimately crossed over in the corner for his fourth try, following some excellent touches from prop Elliot McLaren. Final score 50 – 3.

This article was posted on 27-Oct-2012, 19:55 by Hugh Barrow.