Border Reivers 24 Glasgow Warriors 13

Reivers ended 2005 in the same manner as they had bade farewell to 2004 – with a comprehensive victory over domestic rivals. Just as Edinburgh Gunners were put to the sword last year that fate was inflicted on Glasgow today.

From the game’s first act – where Semo Sititi and Ross Ford rampaged up the stand touchline – there was a greater urgency about the hosts who leap-frogged Glasgow in the Celtic League table as a consequence.

An upbeat Border Reivers’ head coach Steve Bates said: “It was a really competitive and exciting game today and a great way to finish off 2005.

“Now our objective for 2006 is to increase intensity and keep it there.”

Sititi added: “What was encouraging for me today was that we followed up on what we had talked about all week and made sure we won the game.”

Before the match the hosts were given a boost as Gregor Townsend passed a fitness test to take his place at stand-off.

In the opening exchanges, however, it was his half-back partner Chris Cusiter who stood out. Cusiter, whose performance, accomplished at pace, would have out-lasted the Duracell bunny, was the catalyst for the opening try.

His quickly taken tap penalty and then clever lateral run set up Ben MacDougall, who dispatched Simon Danielli on a two on one for a cracking score and a 5-0 lead after as many minutes.

Penalties galore were conceded by both sides throughout the contest for offences in the aftermath of a tackle and when Sam Pinder was found guilty of not rolling away, Charlie Hore stepped forward to goal his first of four penalties for 8-0 after 12 minutes.

The visitors were soon on the scoreboard however as from a spiralling long-distance touchfinder from Dan Parks, Glasgow pirated lineout ball against the throw. Reivers handled in the subsequent ruck and Parks nailed the three points, following up rapidly with his second penalty for 8-6 after 19 minutes.

Hore miscued as the penalty parade continued but Glasgow could make no impression when Bruce Douglas was yellow carded after 25 minutes for maul collapse and the Borders ended the half sensing it could be their day.

That feeling was heightened within 16 minutes of the restart as three Hore penalties increased the home advantage to 17-6.

Both coaches rang the changes but it was Glasgow who gave themselves a lifeline with a 70th minute try from Rory Lamont.

It owed much to formidable strength by Dan Parks who stayed on his feet in Garry Law’s tackle and then slipped a pass to Graydon Staniforth for Lamont to dot down. Parks converted superbly from the touchline to narrow the home lead to 17-13.

But with the crowd of 2,107 finding their voices, the grandstand finish came from the Reivers. Glasgow were reduced to 14 men when Gregor Hayter was yellow carded for deliberately slowing up ball and, within two minutes, Reivers had snatched a deserved safety score.

Nikki Walker, unleashed from a high ball take, exploded magnificently out of Graeme Morrison’s attempted tackle. Sititi was launched from the ruck and Steve Scott was on his elbow to bruise over for the decisive try. Hore converted to send the home supporters out to begin their New Year celebrations in the best of moods.

Border Reivers: Calum MacRae*; Simon Danielli, Ben MacDougall, Charlie Hore, Nikki Walker; Gregor Townsend, Chris Cusiter*; Paul Thomson captain, Ross Ford* Bruce Douglas, Scott MacLeod, Opeta Palepoi, Kelly Brown*, Semo Sititi, Andy Miller.

Subs: Tom McGee for Miller (27-38 mins), McGee for Thomson (half time), Colin Stewart for MacLeod and John Dalziel for Miller (both 64 mins), Stuart Moffat for MacRae (67 mins), Garry Law for Danielli (68 mins) and Steve Scott for Ford (70 mins).

Glasgow Warriors: Graydon Staniforth; Hefin O’Hare, Graeme Morrison, Andy Henderson, Rory Lamont; Dan Parks, Sam Pinder; Kevin Tkachuk, Scott Lawson*, Euan Murray*, Tim Barker, Dan Turner, John Beattie, Jon Petrie captain, John Barclay*.

Subs: Lee Harrison for Murray (8-17 mins and 57 mins)), Gregor Hayter for Barker (half time), Steve Swindall for Petrie (49mins), Colin Gregor for Parks (72 mins), Andy Craig for O’Hare and Fergus Thomson for Lawson (both 77 mins)

* = Member of Scottish Institute of Sport

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)

Man of the match: Semo Sititi

Crowd: 2,107

Yellow cards: Bruce Douglas (Border Reivers); Sam Pinder and Gregor Hayter (Glasgow Warriors).

Scorers: Border Reivers: Tries from Simon Danielli and Steve Scott. Conversion: Charlie Hore (1). Penalties: Charlie Hore (4)

Glasgow Warriors: Try from Rory Lamont. Conversion: Dan Parks. Penalties: Parks (2)

This article was posted on 31-Dec-2005, 17:26 by Hugh Barrow.