Sat 27th January 2007

Venue: The Bearyards, Bishopbriggs

Result: Allan Glens 16 Glasgow Accies 19



“Jamie Doig, the late, late match winner”



With Noel Edmonds back in vogue it seemed appropriate that Accies kept up their winning run against Allan Glens with a last minute “late, late” winning try from centre Jamie Doig to keep Accies in good heart ahead of next weeks Cup game against Dumfries.

The match started 35 minutes late as the match referee was delayed in the Glasgow roadworks traffic chaos and was further disrupted in the second half when Accies flanker, Paul Allan, sustained a serious looking neck injury causing the match to be moved to Glens’ 2nd XV pitch. The good news is that Paul received the all clear after being treated at the local hospital.

Perhaps the delayed start unsettled Accies as they struggled in the first 20 minutes to get going against a Glens side that, while powerful in the forwards, lacked a cutting edge in the backs with Glens resorting to peppering, full back, Ross Chassels with a series of high kicks. After going behind to an early Glens penalty, Accies’ inability to deal with the high ball resulted in Glens scoring their only try of the game as a kick from Glens’ excellent scrum half caused chaos in Accies back division and the Glens stand-off gleefully picked up the loose ball to dive over for the opening, converted, try of the match.

Glens 10 – Accies 0.

Glens continued to press Accies with the high ball and they won a further penalty kicked by their Second Row. 13 – 0. As often happens when teams are behind some of the referees decisions seemed to go against Accies at key moments. However, after 20 minutes Accies come alive and roar into the game with some high tempo driving mauls and rucks and following a ruck the ball was fed out to the backs, Craig Wright looping round from his opposite wing fed Mike Hermes who scorched in from 25 metres with Jamie Doig converting from out wide.

Accies continued to spread the ball wide and the game opened up with Glens’ forwards having the power but Accies’ backs having the cutting edge.

The first half ended in frustration as Accies were pressing hard for the next score with Mike Hermes narrowly tackled into touch short of the try line having scorched outside his opposite man.

Accies started the second half with the wind at their backs and pressed at Glens with real urgency, following a lineout on Glens’ “22” right wing Mike Hermes nearly scored on the left hand side. In the cold light of day he should have given the pass to Craig Wright who surely would have scored, alas the chance was lost. Not to be disheartened, Accies continued to press. However, more disruption to the game was to follow and after a drop out “22” kick, flanker, Paul Allan sustained a serious looking neck injury. For safety reasons, the match was moved to Glens’ 2nd XV pitch.

Glens used this as a chance to re-group and surged back at Accies kicking a penalty goal after some sustained pressure on Accies try line and clearly hoped this would be enough to break Accies winning sequence in this fixture which runs back for many years.16 – 7 to Glens.

Accies clearly were not reading from the same script as Glens and they drove straight back at Glens looking for the try that would pull them back into contention and following a quick tap penalty the ball was moved wide left and Craig Wright dived in from 5 metres out to cut Glens lead to 16 – 12.

The momentum had clearly swung Accies way and as the light began to fail, Accies back line were suddenly in rampant mood, consistently braking through Glens defence but the final scoring pass just wouldn’t come.

With the daylight fading, fingernails being nibbled, the Glens support were calling for full time and orders were being taken for the last chance saloon. Right on cue, following a lineout on Glens’ “22”, Jamie Doig took the pass and sliced through the Glens centres to score the winning converted try. 19 – 12 to Accies.

Overall, a thrilling end to a match resulting in victory for Accies in testing circumstances some what tempered by the injury count to Paul Allan and Andy Pogrel, the club physio will be busy this week ahead of next Saturday’s Cup clash with Dumfries at New Anniesland.



Regards,



Stephen

This article was posted on 28-Jan-2007, 23:35 by Hugh Barrow.