Glasgow Accies 49 Duns 0

New Anniesland

16th December 2006



Accies finished off the 2006 part of the league campaign with a handsome nine try display against struggling Duns. After a week of constant rain the New Anniesland pitch was in remarkable condition. Although the game, for the most part, was played in a steady drizzle Accies handling of the slippery ball was of a high order and they were happy to run and move it around.

Playing against the bottom side in the league Accies were expected to win this game and they did not disappoint the considerable number of their sponsors who enjoyed a pre match lunch in the Clubhouse. In fact they were so anxious to get on with it that the speed of the first try meant that this writer was not in his place to see the action. Apparently flanker Colin Tennant scored it and the report is that it was well worked.

Two more tries and one conversion before half time gave Accies a useful 17-0 lead at the interval. The first came from a clever short lineout collected by Andy Pogrel who ran 30 metres up the touchline before being stopped. When the ball was recycled it was fed along the back line before winger Andy Wright crossed at the far corner.

The second try followed a series of rucks and mauls close to the Duns line until scrum half Alan Wilson dived over. Gareth Williams converted.

The first half had not been all one-way traffic as Duns had prolonged periods close to the Accies line but like most sides down on their luck a penalty was conceded and the danger cleared.

The second half was different as Duns were rarely seen as an attacking force and it was the constant Accies pressure that resulted in a further six tries. Duns, to their credit, never gave up and they tackled as if their lives depended on it. Together with Accies inability to kick goals this kept the score in check.

Accies got the second half off to a cracking start with a spectacular solo effort from Gareth Williams. From a tight scrum 30 metres out he made a super clean break, dummied the defender and sailed over close to the posts. This was followed by a neat move that allowed Ross Chassels to come into the line and make the score.

The next score was a well-worked move from a five-metre line out. Alan Wilson fed stand off Gareth Williams who dummied right and linked up with Jonny Adams who was coming back at an angle. The big centre simply ran through the fragmented defence to score at the side of the posts.

Try number seven was scored by replacement scrum half Richard Taylor from a clean break from the base of a ruck close to the line. Brad Wirth took the score into the forties following a slick-handling move. He converted this score himself, only the second successful kick of the afternoon.

At this stage with fifteen minutes remaining it was expected that Accies would run riot but it didn’t happen. Although there were numerous scoring opportunities only one was taken and it was worth waiting for. It started close to the halfway line and after some excellent handling fullback and captain Ross Chassels raced over in the corner to complete the scoring.

Although the game was relatively one sided it was a highly satisfactory performance from an Accies perspective. There were a number of encouraging features not the least of which was the improvement in the lineout. The handling was also of a high order with very few passes dropped. If this improvement can be maintained there is hope for the remainder of the season. At the end of the game Tom Howie of Hawks nominated Alan Wilson as man of the match. This was well deserved as the scrum half cum centre has consistently played well throughout the season and his solid defence is a great encouragement to those around him.

The next match takes place on Boxing Day against Accies Exiles. This is the day when Glasgow Accies playing for other clubs throughout the land return to their roots.

Any player who has not been in contact that wishes to play should contact Alasdair Graham this week.

The annual Boxing Day Disco takes place at New Anniesland from 7-30. Pay at the door

This article was posted on 17-Dec-2006, 09:29 by Hugh Barrow.