Newton Stewart 24 Glasgow Accies 11

Saturday 13th October 2007

Bladnoch Park


Another Saturday another defeat! Accies have got into a losing rut that they cannot break free from no matter what they try. This was yet another match that should have been won yet the score tells that it was a comprehensive defeat.

What was the secret of Newton Stewart’s victory? The answer - an immense defence, a stand off who kicked like a mule, a huge amount of luck and the refereeing of the breakdown that defied belief.

On a good day for rugby and on an excellent playing surface Accies got off to an awful start. From the first lineout, on their own 22-metre line they won the ball comfortably and decided to run it out of defence. The centres were trapped and gave away a penalty for holding on. 3-0 down and a minute played.

At this stage Accies were giving away the ball as if it was a hot coal and Newton Stewart were loving it as they drove Accies back time after time. Eventually a speculative kick to the corner was poorly defended by the slowness of the covering backs and the winger pounced to score but not before he clearly knocked the ball on. The second piece of luck came when the ball bounced on the bar and went over for a 10-0 lead. 10 minutes played and Accies had lost a point a minute.

Accies soon picked up the pace and camped in the opposition 22 but they could not force the ball over the line. All they had to show from the pressure was 3 points from a penalty by Gareth Williams for a high and dangerous tackle.

Accies have developed a bad habit of missing penalties to touch and the next one cost them dearly. The Newton Stewart backs ran the ball back at the Accies defence who in attempting to halt the attack gave away a penalty. The kick re-bounded back off the post to almost the 22-metre line. It was then fly hacked by an attacker and ball went over the goal line to almost the dead ball area. The Accies defenders could not turn quickly enough and a Newton Stewart player nipped through to score. The conversion went over and Accies were 17-3 down.

Straight from the kick off Steve Begley was yellow carded, the referee claiming that he had tackled the ball catcher before he reached the ground. It seemed to be a 50:50 decision and Steve was perhaps a bit unlucky.

Half time: Newton Stewart 17-Accies 3.

The second half was almost entirely pressure from Accies but frustratingly they could not win enough good ball to release their backs. Time after time Newton Stewart forwards killed the ball, came in from the side or handled on the ground. Accies were awarded a barrel load of penalties and the referee yellow carded the Newton Stewart No.5 for persistent offence.

The new law against taking retribution into your own hands has lead to a ‘cheats charter’. Accies attempted to remove intruding bodies on two occasions but were penalised each time. Going to ground and taking players out down the side of rucks has to be tightly controlled by referees otherwise stalemate results.

Midway through the half Gareth Williams went off with an ankle injury and Jamie Doig came into his position. Jamie’s more powerful boot gave Accies better field positions. One huge boot into the right corner was spilled by the covering winger and a great follow up by Mike Hermes seemed to be a certain score. However the winger, who was on the ground, tackled Mike without the ball. Ian Corrie followed up and plunged over for his first try for the Club since being introduced to Anniesland by Graeme Ker. It should have been a penalty try but the referee decided to play advantage as a try was certain. The conversion was missed.

Accies continued on the offensive and spurned a penalty kick in front of the posts for short penalty that Newton Stewart defended well. Shortly after they were awarded another and this time Captain Wilson remembered that 3 points would put them back within a bonus point and one score. Jamie Doig knocked it over with ease.

17-11 and enough time to win the game? It was not to be however. With10 minutes left to play the Newton Stewart stand off kicked another huge ball downfield and Accies fumbled it. The opposition fullback and winger followed up and hacked it on and it took a friendly bounce for an easy score under the posts’

This is not a bad Accies side. They have a powerful pack and the lineout, mauling and scrimmaging are good but the rucking is ponderous meaning that quick ball is difficult to obtain. They also have a tendency to go for too many phases before releasing their backs.

The backs have suffered from too many changes in personnel to develop and form any consistency. They also lack fluidity and rarely are able to complete and handling movement due to lack of confidence.

However it will come good as there are too many quality players in the side and what is lacking is team play.

Next Saturday will be the acid test as they play bottom of the table Stewartry at New Anniesland.

This article was posted on 14-Oct-2007, 17:06 by Hugh Barrow.