GLASGOW ACCIES vs KILMARNOCK at Bellsland,…….Sat.21 Feb.2009.
Having suffered from the recent wintry weather, the team had not played a competitive match for 3 weeks, so were keen to be well prepared for this S.H.E. cup-tie at Bellsland. Director of rugby, Donald Reid, and coaches Chas Afuakwah and Steve Begley had planned well for the match, including a full contact session against Peter Wright’s Hawks at New Anniesland on Tuesday night.

In the absence of full-back Gareth Williams, who has returned to Canada, and Stewart Smith through injury, Donald Reid brought in Ben Wilkinson at stand-off for his first match, …Ian Corrie at centre, and Ali McLaren at full-back. All three had been playing well for the 2nd.XV, and training hard, so fully merited their inclusion in the side.

Ali McLaren had an outstanding match in mid-week, coming on for the second half for the Hawks Development XV in their match against the Royal Navy under the lights at Old Anniesland. Accies also had Prop Fabio Marchetti and flanker Jack Walker in the line-up.

All three of these players acquitted themselves well, and are clear proof that the Club’s relationship with Hawks is healthy and a benefit to both Clubs. However, it was interesting to note that for Saturdays match, despite the length of the injury list, Accies were able to field a strong side, demonstrating good strength in depth which can only be encouraging for Anniesland rugby.

It was indeed pleasing that over 30 Club supporters had made the trip to Kilmarnock to cheer on the team, …..something which gave the players a huge lift, and was appreciated greatly by them.

The team had prepared well for this match and were determined to maintain the high level of discipline they have developed over the past weeks, something they had failed to do in their previous visit to Kilmarnock in an early season league match when they lost focus, and let a narrow lead slip to a narrow defeat!!

The first ten minutes of the match showed a pattern of play that clearly illustrated how this match could be won, with Accies playing down wind, their forwards taking control of all aspects of the forward battle. Early on the referee showed his awareness at the breakdown and penalised the Kilmarnock back row for going off their feet and Ali McLaren landed a penalty downwind from 45 yards. ……SCORE….0 – 3.

After 15 minutes, on one of Kilmarnock’s rare visits to Accies’ half, a tackle was missed, and their speedy left winger broke through and ran in clear from 40 yards to score between the posts. This was to prove to be one of very few mistakes by our back division which operated very effectively throughout the entire game.

SCORE …. 7 – 3.

This set-back was short lived, as Accies worked hard to take play to inside their opponents 22 where a line-out possession was secured and from a training ground move, Cruz Kawakameni took the ball, at speed, from the front of the line-out to barge over near the corner for a well deserved score. McLaren’s conversion attempt from far out, slid past the right post, however the referee had noticed an infringement by the Kilmarnock players in their charge of the conversion and allowed Accies to retake the kick, which McLaren duly kicked between the posts……SCORE – 7 – 10.

Accies took advantage of the first half tail wind with captain Richard McKnight gaining ground up the right touchline with some astute kicking, and from a loose scrum 10 yards out, No.8 Graeme Simpson went on the blind side, and the ball passed through two sets of hands, before Jack Walker dived over after 25 minutes for an excellent try in the corner. This young man’s commitment and performances have got better game by game and it is pleasing to see him so often in the thick of things, and enjoying his rugby so much. Another outstanding touchline conversion by Ali McLaren took the score to ……7 – 17.

With 5 minutes of the half remaining, another penalty was awarded to Accies when the Kilmarnock back row were once again penalised for going over the top in the loose, and another McLaren conversion increased the lead. ……….SCORE ….. 7 – 20.

In the last few minutes of the half, the Kilmarnock No.7 was yellow carded for using his knee when tackling Richard McKnight

HALF TIME ……7 – 20.

Playing into the wind in the second half Accies stuck to their game plan and their forwards controlled the game and possession, with Walker, Cameron and Matt Smith all gaining the upper hand. The only score of the second half was another McLaren penalty. ……….FINAL SCORE ……7 – 23.

Donald Reid and the coaches can be justifiably proud of this good all-round team performance, and the players too will be pleased to have got back to winning ways, and will now be hoping for a good run in the Shield.

MAN OF THE MATCH……………..Graeme Simpson, had another fine game at No.8 and led by example and from the front.


Gordon Wilson.

This article was posted on 23-Feb-2009, 08:06 by Hugh Barrow.