Glasgow Accies 2ndXV 29 Whitecraigs 2ndXV 30

Saturday 16th September 2006

At New Anniesland

This was the first real outing for the 2ndXV this season, with so many of our students not back in time for us to have fielded a decent side for any of our pre-season friendlies. That said the numbers out at training on both Tuesday & Thursday this week were extremely positive – for the first time in weeks we were able to have a full team run!!

With two new players, Richard Taylor & David Whitmore, playing their first game for the club & with some familiar faces back out after a long period of absence, the team looked good on paper & the guys felt if we could take ‘Craigs on up front we stood a good chance of taking them on in the backs & securing a win.

It is at this point that I have to admit to not knowing who scored what, when & how many as this game was played at a top speed from start to finish…and when we entered the changing room to have our post-match chat every one of the guys was shattered. That said here follows some highlights from the game…..

Accies kicked off on the traditional 2ndXV Curling Pond – commented on by both sets of players as being in excellent condition (thanks to Robert & team for preparing both this & the 1stXV pitch in such excellent order) – and straight from the outset ‘Craigs used their big pack to take the ball on. In particular their backrow were extremely mobile & created plenty of problems for us all day. It has to be said that we started somewhat slower & didn’t hit the ground running in quite the same manner.

From memory I recall an early try being conceded, which was converted by their No10 – who ran their very mobile backs all day & looked to move the ball wide at every opportunity. Almost immediately, after some sustained pressure a penalty was conceded…which ‘Craigs converted to make the scoreline 0-10 in their favour. That was the wake up call Accies needed & from the restart the forwards started to take the ball on, creating good clean ball for Richard Taylor – who played extremely well all day – to spin out to the backs.

Accies scored within the next 10mins, and then converted two penalties to go in at half-time 13-10 up.

The second half started very brightly, and with ‘Craigs forwards beginning to tire Accies began to run them about the park spreading the ball wide using both forwards & backs to good effect. Another Accies try was on the way after a period of sustained pressure, however it was not converted. Scoreline 19 – 10. Unfortunately ‘Craigs fought their way back into the game, again using their heavier pack to drive the ball up field. They spun the ball out to the backs who, for the first time in the game seemed to drift through the defence & score what was a very soft try, which they converted to make it 19-17.

‘Craigs seemed to be buoyed by their try & started to move the ball around well and attacked with their backs at every opportunity. Whilst the Accies could only hold out for so long, and shortly afterwards ‘Craig gained the lead with a penalty, 19-20.

Dave Tait (Team Manager/Coach/player for the day), brought subs on, including himself & Andrew ‘Digby’ Dickinson for Ian Owen. It seemed to be what we needed as from the restart the guys began to make the hits & put pressure on the ‘Craig’s stand-off. A converted Accies penalty made it 22-20 with 10mins to go. Unfortunately ‘Craigs seemed to get a second wind & started attacking the home line, which after numerous rolling mauls rewarded them with a penalty, which they converted for 22-23, making for some very tense minutes with full time approaching.

Accies never gave up, and to the guys credit they took the game straight back at the visitors, with ‘Digby’ in particular making some excellent runs from deep. Indeed Accies now looked like the better outfit & were rewarded with a superb try from ‘Digby’ as he came in off the wing and broke through three tackles to score under the posts. With the easiest of conversions, the scoreline with little over 3mins to go read 29-23.

What happened next can only be described as slightly confusing….from the re-start Scott Buchanan collected the ball and turned to take it back up the filed. He was tackled, went to deck & was then kicked in the ribs in full view of the ref by one Ross Cockayne (a Former Pupil of the Academy & actually a good friend of Scott’s). The referee quite rightly red carded Ross for what can only be seen as a ‘rush of blood to the head’. However the ref then elected to award the lineout to ‘Craigs, leaving most Accies surprised as one would have expected him to award the home team with a penalty. That said….the ref’s decision is final & if anything it fired ‘Craigs up even more. From the lineout they rolled a maul across the pitch & then whipped the ball blind where their centre, who showed great pace all day, broke through to score. The visiting stand-off, who had a god day with the boot, converted to make it 29-30 with seconds remaining.

From the kick-off the first ‘Craigs forward to get his hands on the ball hoofed it into touch & the ref blew for full time.

The guys were gutted…but they should take this from the game:

1. They never gave up & made tackles all day
2. They played some great rugby once they realised they were in a game
3. They scored some great tries
4. For once (the writer in particular) we didn’t give the ref back chat & just played the whistle

It was a great game of 2ndXV rugby, and given that we beat ‘Craig the previous season on both occasions and both by just one point with the last kick of the game, ‘Craig had reaped revenge of sorts. This league will be difficult to get out off, but if the guys play like this every week & train as a team we will be right up there competing.

Special note to Craig Sankie who played his last game for the 2ndXV, as he leaves this week for Bristol to take up his new post….and for those that saw him afterwards in the clubhouse competing in the slowest pint race in the history of the club we hope he finds his drinking boots sometime soon!! A record breaking 35seconds was posted by Craig, who although beaten by ‘Craigs Man of the Match by two seconds was only seconds later announced as the winner…whilst his opponent decorated the front steps of the club house a strange beige colour!! All the best, Craig from all the guys at the club.

Next week, the 2ndXV’s only bus trip of the season….to Newton Stewart!! Now who is the youngest player in squad…..??!!

Team:
1. Dunn
2. McBride
3. Marchetti
4. Whitmore
5. Buchanan
6. Lloyd
7. Holmes
8. McLouchlan
9. Taylor
10. Wilson
11. Henderson
12. Sankie
13. McNeish
14. Owen
15. Hazely
16. Tait
17. Dickinson
18. Hodgekiss

This article was posted on 18-Sep-2006, 18:00 by Hugh Barrow.