Glasgow Accies 22 Kinross 7

New Anniesland

3rd December 2005

Accies are into the 2nd round of the BT Bowl thanks to a 22-7 win against Kinross at New Anniesland on Saturday. In front of a crowd of about 30, the visitors who lie in 4th place in National League Division 4, made life hot for Accies in the first half and lead by 7-5 at the interval.
In the opening minutes of the half, with a little more composure could well have taken the lead as they stormed the home defence. However Accies weathered the assault and began to put on their own pressure. This was eased when they conceded a penalty on the line that Kinross cleared to touch.
From then until the 18th minute the played ebbed and flowed up and down the pitch until Accies fullback Ross Chassells latched onto a loose ball and worked his way up the right touchline where he linked up with Mike Hermes. He required no second invitation to stretch his legs and scorched in at the corner. Ali McLaren missed the difficult conversion.
This seemed to stir the visitors to greater efforts and in the 28th minute, from a lineout close to the line, Alan Fraser their vetern scum half sold a beautiful dummy to go over close to the posts. Iain Spence converted for a 7-5 lead.
The Kinross halfbacks were causing Accies problems every time they got the ball but Accies managed to hang on with some good forward driving and tackling that resulted in no further scoring in the first half.
The second half turned out to be totally in contrast to the first. Apart from a few scary moments in the first 5 minutes Accies forwards dominated the half by denying the opposition the ball. Their back five came on to an excellent driving game that kept Kinross pinned in their own half of the field. The pressure eventually told and Dougie Horner forced his way over close to the posts. Ali McLaren kicked the conversion and Accies were back in the lead at 12-7.
They consolidated this lead on the hour when Mclaren kicked a penalty from close to the post to stretch the lead to 15-7
By this time 18 year old Jonathan Adams, who must be about 6’-5”, had replaced Al Smith in the centre and his rampaging runs through the middle of the field were causing panic in the defence. This helped to keep the pressure on and Accies made the game safe when a good pick up from the base of a scrum by Andy Pogrel put replacement Craig in at the corner, Ali McLaren kicked a beauty from the touchline to complete the scoring.
This was a reasonably competent performance against opponents who never gave up but probably tired due to the size of the pitch and the step up in pace by Accies in the second half.
Correspondents man of the match. Any one of the locks or back row. Mike Metlock gets the nod for his tireless efforts and ability to make ground and retain the ball in contact.

Accies
15 Ross Chassells
14 Mike Hermes
13 Al Smith replaced by Jonathon Adams (60mins)
12 Alan Wilson
11 Douglas Horner replaced by Craig Wright (65 mins)
10 Scott Chassells
09 Ali McLaren

01 Fraser Cameron
02 Matteo Giovanzzi replaced Craig Clarke (20mins)
03 Brian Keogh replaced by Matteo Giovanzzi (60 mins)
04 Pete Meiklem
05 Mike Metlock
06 Andy Pogrel (capt)
07 Colin Tennent
08 Stevie Winter

This article was posted on 5-Dec-2005, 08:28 by Hugh Barrow.