EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS
Adam backing Currie despite crushing loss

CURRIE 7-23 GLASGOW HAWKS

COLIN RENTON
AT MALLENY PARK


CURRIE skipper Andy Adam remains upbeat on the Malleny Park side's prospects for top flight survival, despite suffering a painful 23-7 defeat at the hands of champions Glasgow Hawks on Saturday.

Adam and his colleagues battled manfully throughout an encounter that for lengthy spells looked likely to yield a second win in as many weeks over Hawks, before succumbing to a late sucker punch and surrendering the league points. The second row, who is in the running for a berth in the Scotland side to meet Ireland in a club international on the eve of the RBS Six Nations encounter in March, produced a typically committed effort, before watching in frustration as the game swung visitors the way.


But, despite disappointment at the eventual outcome, he pointed out the plus points of Currie's current situation as the season enters what looks increasingly likely to be a tense finale, saying, "The positive thing for us is that our destiny is still in our own hands."

And, casting aside the disappointment of a result that, combined with events elsewhere, has thrust Currie into a battle to beat the drop, he added, "We lost to the best team in the league because of an interception try.

"A week earlier we had beaten them in the Cup so it shows we are not that far away."

A second victory on the trot over the champions looked to be a distinct possibility as Adam and his colleagues came to terms with the Malleny glaur and made a solid start to the encounter.

The hosts led at the break after prop Andrew Reekie had burrowed over from close range for a try converted by Michael Ker.

The visitors could have few complaints at trailing when the sides turned round, but set about securing the win that, combined with results elsewhere, meant that the league title is almost certainly bound for Anniesland once more.

"We maybe should have been more than 7-0 up at half time but it's difficult to say - it's sometimes difficult to see where things are going wrong when you are in the middle of it, but I felt we were in control," added Adam.

Some tough talking by their coach David Wilson added steel to the visitors after the restart and they produced a solid second half effort, as they went on to seal the win and claim the bonus point.

Hawks clawed their way into the lead with a try from Richard Maxton and a penalty by Mike Adamson before the game changed when Murray Strang intercepted a pass from Ker and galloped clear. And the scoreline took on a flattering appearance with further tries for Hawks by Ally MacLay and scrum half, Iain Monaghan, who rubbed salt into the gaping Currie wound when he galloped over for the bonus point score against his former colleagues.

Currie coach Ally Donaldson, pictured below, again praised his players for their commitment but, once more, he was left reflecting on a loss that means the Malleny men still need league points needed to guarantee their survival.

There was good news for the third coach in the crowd, Edinburgh Gunners boss Todd Blackadder. He left satisfied after seeing his lock Fergus Pringle continue his recovery from recent illness.

This article was posted on 30-Jan-2006, 12:25 by Hugh Barrow.