So now let us hear from the vanquished

Match Report: 13 April
by Webmaster
Cambodian New Year, or Chaul Chnam Thmey in the Khmer language, literally "Enter New Year", is the name of the Cambodian holiday that celebrates the New Year. The holiday lasts for three days beginning on New Year's Day, which usually falls on 13th April, which is the end of the harvesting season, when farmers enjoy the fruits of their labour before the rainy season begins.

Maha Songkran, derived from Sanskrit Maha Sankranti, is the name of the first day of the new year celebration. It is the ending of the year and the beginning of a new one. People dress up and light candles and burn incense sticks at shrines, where the members of each family pay homage to offer thanks for the Buddha's teachings by bowing, kneeling and prostrating themselves three times before his image. For good luck people wash their face with holy water in the morning, their chests at noon, and their feet in the evening before they go to bed.

Virak Wanabat is the name of the second day of the new year celebration. People contribute charity to the less fortunate by helping the poor, servants, homeless, and low-income families. Families attend a dedication ceremony to their ancestors at the monastery.

T'ngai Leang Saka is the name of the third day of the new year celebration. Buddhists cleanse the Buddha statues and their elders, with perfumed water. Bathing the Buddha images is the symbol that water will be needed for all kinds of plants and lives. It is also thought to be a kind deed that will bring longevity, good luck, happiness and prosperity in life. By bathing their grandparents and parents, children can obtain from them best wishes and good advice for the future.

“What relevance (other than the date of course) does this have to Saturday’s match against GHK?”......I hear you ask. Plenty.....however the parallels are too blindingly obvious, and my time equally short. So I shall proceed with the necessaries.

On a fresh Spring afternoon these two Behemoths of Anniesland rugby took to the well manicured turf of New Anniesland, to write yet another chapter in a playing history that some say is older than Gordon Wilson himself. A hearty support for both teams had come to indulge old rivalries borne out of a geographical proximity which has proven just a bit too close for comfort over the years. A significant GHK representation had crossed the Gaza Strip that is the proverbial “Fence”, to support their most recent batch of martyrs in their quest for the perfect death.....and the scene was set.

To the delight of the home support, it was to be the Academicals who opened the scoring through their stand in number 10, and teen dream, Robert Beattie. In the 5th Minute, Beattie cut a familiar line through the GHK midfield, and outstripped the remaining defenders to touch down in the corner. 7 - 0.

In a match which saw the breakdown prove the most competitive area, there was to be a high resultant penalty count from related infringements and in the 7th minute GHK opened their account from one such ruck in the Accies 22. Some “sticky fingers” from the Accies back row, allowed GHK to slot the duly awarded penalty to take the score to 7 - 3.

Both teams have achieved success in recent seasons via their respective speedsters in the back line, and as such both defences were eager to apply pressure in the midfield where possible. An over eagerness however from Accies in the 15th minute resulted in a GHK penalty which was knocked over from 30 metres to claw the scorline back to 7 - 6.

GHK took their first try of the game 5 minutes later following some exciting inter passing down the left flank. A break down on the half way line saw the ball moved to the blind side, where the visitors found themselves with men over and were able to put their winger in the corner for a well worked score. 7 - 11.

Despite some enterprising play from both sides over the next 20 minutes, defensive lines proved difficult to penetrate, and neither team was able to supplement their tally prior to the half time break, which saw the score remain at 7 - 11.

In the absence of Mr D Wilson (who is understood to be working on his bikini line in the Mediterranean) it was down to caretaker manager Beattie to rally his troops at the interval. Never one to shy away from unfounded speculation, I can only assume that there would have been general contentment at the score line, however a recognition that urgency and accuracy would both have to improve in the second half. Accies had not played badly by any means over the first 40 mins, however at times were found wanting for ideas to break down a very enthusiastic GHK defence.

The second half commenced as the first had finished, with both teams refusing to concede in defence. It was however the competitive breakdown area which allowed Accies to add to their tally in the 15th minute when GHK were deemed to have entered the ruck from the side. A relatively straightforward penalty kick took the score to 10 - 11.

The next try by GHK captured the nature of the fixture perfectly, in that it took the Kelvinsiders seven phases of play to ultimately cross the line. A series of pick and go’s took GHK deep into the home 22 area, and following a collapsed mall, the visiting flanker took the opportunity to dive over from 2 metres to stretch the lead to 10 - 16.

The game was almost put almost out of reach in the 35th minute when GHK took another try in very similar circumstances. Showing great ability to retain possession, a series of driving carries once again took the High Schoolers into the defending 22, and a team effort carried the ball over the Accies line, pushing the score out to 10 - 21.

The home support were now turning their thoughts to mutton pies and draft lager, however this Accie team had recently secured one of the memorable come backs in modern sporting history, and had no intention of rolling over to their Anniesland neighbours. The strike back was indeed to come in the 39th minute when Man of the Match Andy Smith took a very well deserved score. Accies had run almost every penalty that afternoon however, following a penalty award 30m from the GHK line, an executive decision was taken to kick for the corner. The lineout led to a series of driving efforts from the Accies pack, and Smith’s work rate was awarded when a gap in the GHK line allowed him to pounce over, reducing the deficit to 15 - 21.

Suddenly with an opportunity to pinch victory in the final throes, Accies re started the game with real vigour and quickly retained possession. The final play of the game saw the ball moved across the field where Accies found themselves with numbers to spare. The Gods of Anniesland rugby had however moved their own thoughts to that of mutton pies and draft lager, and an Accies scoring pass was deemed to have gone forward, thus bringing proceedings to an end.

It is often difficult to remain impartial when considering an encounter of this nature, however I am sure both sets of supporters would agree that there was very little to differentiate the two Anniesland sides. Both defences worked hard to constrain their opponents, and this resulted in what was a very tight and well contested match. Clearly disappointing for the home team given their recent success against Kilmarnock, however many positives to take as we continue to see this young Accies side grow in stature.

A final and special mention to two of our long standing servants, Mr J Walker and Mr A Taylor Esq. Apparently they are leaving to pursue their respective careers on different sides of the planet.....however this scribe suspects they are running off to San Francisco, where they can live together in a slightly more “accepting” environment. Best of luck guys, and I hope to see you next Chaul Chnam Thmey

This article was posted on 15-Apr-2013, 08:13 by Hugh Barrow.