Linlithgow 16 Glasgow Accies 3

Mains Park

4th October 2008


In the final analysis Accies can have no complaint about the outcome. They travelled to Mains Park, a ground that they have never won a league or cup game, in high expectation as, on paper, they appeared to have a highly potent back division. Sadly they were rarely used as Accies got succoured into a forward slugfest from which they came second.

Linlithgow had a simple game plan centred on their well-drilled pack and halfbacks. The were extremely adept at ensuring that Accies got little or no quick ball, tackled like demons around the fringes and kicked well to gain ground. These tactics were very effective on a miserable day of wind and rain and a slippery ball.

During the first ten-minute the sides probed the others defences and the only scoring opportunity arose when Richard McKnight knocked over a penalty from 22 metres to open the scoring.

The next twenty minutes were definitely in Linlithgow’s favour as they drove Accies back time and again. Accies main problem was their lineout where they lost the ball on their own first four throws and were struggling to get clean and protected ball from the scrums.

In the 25th minute Linlithgow took the lead and scored the only try of the match. Accies conceded two penalties in quick succession to allow their opponents a lineout on the five-metre line. For once Accies defence was unable to stop the rolling maul and Linlithgow squeezed over for a try that was converted from close to the touchline.

Four minutes later, another setback followed as they conceded a further penalty, this time in front of the post to go behind by 10-3.

At last Accies got into the game and for the closing eight minutes were well on top but ruck after ruck inside the 22 was repelled. Not always legally and the referee finally yellow carded the Linlithgow No.8 for persistent offending. In this period Accies did not once use their backs to breach the defence.

Half time 10-3

Accies opened the second half much more aggressively and dominated possession for the first 20 minutes. Over and over again they tried to ruck and maul their opponents but always it was one phase to many. Usually it resulted in a penalty being awarded against them for a player going to ground and the danger was cleared.

In the 65th minute the referee finally lost patience with Linlithgow killing the ball illegally and their No.6 was yellow carded. Two in the game but it could have been many more against this very streetwise side.

The loss of a player seemed to galvanise Linlithgow and in the 67th minute they kicked a penalty to open the gap to 13-3 and significantly requiring Accies to score twice. It was never to be and the game ended with another penalty to Linlithgow to close the game at 16-3.

Accies now need to analyse what went wrong. Firstly the lineout was a shambles and this proved to be very costly in terms of losing ground and in attacking options. The tight scrum seemed to struggle in the first half but settled in the second. However the main reason for the defeat apart from the quality of their opponent’s game plan was the inability to adapt their game to suit the conditions. Although the ball was slippery the backs rarely ran the ball. Too often they cut back into the traffic and Linlithgow anticipated it and had defenders waiting.

Accies need to use the open spaces as the have the quickest set of backs that they have had for years but the wings and outside centre rarely saw the ball in space all afternoon.

This is a tough league but despite two defeats Accies are still in touch with the top and they have so much potential that they should break through. The next two weeks will tell, as they have to play the second top and top side in successive weeks.

What is now needed is a settled XV with all players available on a consistent basis to allow the coaches to develop the game plan on the training ground.

This article was posted on 6-Oct-2008, 20:01 by Hugh Barrow.