Cambuslang 19 v Glasgow Accies 12
Saturday 12th August 2006
Coats Park

On reflection the Accies players and coaches will be disappointed with the final scoreline. In a training game that was played in four 20 minute duration quarters Accies lead by 12-0 going into the final quarter. However in the final quarter Cambuslang pulled on their best side that included the giant ex Glasgow Hawks 2nd row player, Stuart Male, and this proved to be the deciding factor. Three tries were scored, the last try being the final move of the game.
Up to this point Accies had acquitted themselves pretty well and had the livelier set of threequarters. In the opening quarter honours were fairly even and it ended without any scoring.
In the second quarter the Accies backs started to run with more conviction and realised that from broken play they had the better of their opponents. With 10 minutes played they secured the ball in midfield and the forwards and backs linked cleverly to put Kenny Loakman (ex Cartha Queens Park) away on a scything run and good step off his left foot to score under the posts. Ali McLaren converted for a 7-0 lead.
In the third quarter, that Accies dominated, the handling improved and there were a number of moves that looked likely to yield a score but the finishing was indecisive and the chances were lost. Eventually it came good and after a series of rucks and mauls close to the Cambuslang line Dave McLauchlan appeared with the ball and dived over. Gareth Williams was unable to complete the conversion.
In the final quarter Accies with a number of key player either injured or being rested were no match for their opponents from Premier 3 especially Stuart Male and an impressive new centre from Musselburgh.
The match was well refereed by Alan Campbell of Glasgow Academy.
In the final analysis it is difficult to say what was learned from this game other than confirming what the coaches had previously thought.
The back line is particularly strong as witnessed by the fact that captain Ross Chassels, Mike Hermes and Jamie Doig were all missing but still played well. The new additions of wingers Scott Hazley from Ayr, Kenny Loakman from Cartha QP, Dave Miller from Oban and former Accies member, Gareth Williams back from Stirling University have greatly strengthened the choices in the backs. There is also a speedy and powerful winger from Ellon who is carrying a slight injury at present.
The position in the forwards is not so healthy as Accies have lost the giant lock Mike Metlock to Aberdeen, prop Simon Cadwallader away on business in the States until Christmas and the retirement of Stevie Winter. This has been compensated by the return of hooker Craig Clarke and the arrival of flanker Craig McLaren from Falkirk.
Overall to be sure of completing a successful season there is a need to recruit at least one prop a second row and an extra back row player to strengthen what is shaping up to be a good and competitive squad

This article was posted on 13-Aug-2006, 14:21 by Hugh Barrow.