Shield Match Report: Killie 29, Accies 15December 7, 2013
A 4 tries to 2 scoreline maybe not our finest ever hour, but for sheer guts and determination, we can take a lot away from todays semi-final Shield defeat.

The early 1.30pm k/o left us cold and Killie promptly took the lead a few minutes from the start with a well worked and converted try. They then went on to score 2 further tries (1 converted) plus a penalty to give themselves a handsome and comfortable 22 – 0 lead as half-time approached. But a stupid infringement saw their 9 yellow carded with 12 mins left on the first half clock, and we then started to make a “fist” of it. A well-worked try saw Seato go over, and with the conversion to follow, there seemed to be a glimmer of hope at the turn-around. (22 – 7)

And so it proved – we battered at Killie almost relentlessly for 40 minutes, with the vast majority of territory if not possession, throughout the period. We seemed to be clawing our back into things and Ben kept on the pressure with some clever box-kicking. Loomsy got a penalty and with the score at 22 – 10 and considerable pressure from us on their line at the start of the 4th quarter, it looked like if we could eek a score, we might just go on to nick this one.

But we couldn’t convert the pressure into points and after a good piece of opportunism from their nos. 11 & 15 to see their 13 over after a romp the length of the pitch, we were back once again on the back foot at 29 – 10. Kiran did go over for a somewhat bizarre score that took everyone by surprise with 10 mins to go, and with the scoreline at 29 – 15 we got stuck in for the remainder. But it amounted to nought – and by 3 o’clock we were out of the Shield. Murrayfield will just have to wait for another season.

Unlike last week (same venue, same opponents) we played for 80 mins instead of 70, our forwards put in a really strong performance to a man, and even though we were behind in the second half, we started to play with some positional sense. No injuries, thankfully, so that’s a good thing, but after 2 weekends down at Bellsland, we’re all left thinking somewhat ruefully what-might-have-been.

MOTM: you could pick any one of our forwards this week, such was the effort each and every one of them put in. This week however, it goes to Calum Robertson – tackled and carried well, won turnover ball and pretty much commanded the line-out: nice one Gaffer.

Ref Watch: ah, Dougie. Dougie, Dougie, Dougie! Personable as ever to all involved, he managed proceedings remarkably well considering the stodgy pitch, heavy ball and pretty “manky” conditions throughout the 80 minutes. His interpretation of the knock-on laws did baffle many both on and off the pitch, but he generally allowed the game to flow, managed the breakdown remarkably well and didn’t seek “main billing”. A good 7.5/10 this week.

This article was posted on 8-Dec-2013, 18:01 by Hugh Barrow.