Glasgow Accies 6 Caithness 7
Saturday 7th March 2009
New Anniesland

Accies Flop Against the Northerners

The Accies dressing behind room, closed doors, was not the place to be for the faint hearted after this match on Saturday. Director of Rugby Donald Reid was incandescent at the performance of his troops in going down to a solid and stuffy Caithness team.
Accies had enough of the ball and opportunities to have won this game by the length of a street but they treated the ball like a brown paper parcel in a Belfast pub. To say that they dropped it more often than they caught it would be an Irish exaggeration but not too far from the truth.
It will be claimed that in the 20th League game of the season this was the 20th different back division that they have fielded and that is the truth. Due to a combination of injuries, arrivals and departures, and unavailability it has been impossible to get any form of consistency. On the other hand the forwards have developed into a pretty useful unit even if they were a bit subdued in the first half of this game.
It was a good enough March day for playing handling rugby even if it was a bit breezy and drizzly from time to time.
Accies had the advantage of the breeze in the first half but failed to use it mainly due to the bucket load of penalties that they gave away, 10 in 40 minutes. This handed the advantage to their opponents who were happy to pin Accies in their own half for long periods. However in the 10th minute Accies gained a foothold in the Caithness half and Ali McLaren kicked a lovely penalty from 40 metres for the opening score. This was enough to spur them on and a long kick out of defence by Graeme Simpson lead to a penalty that Ali McLaren banged into the corner. Sadly the ball was knocked on from the line out and the chance was lost. After this the Caithness backs turned the screw and Accies were confined again to their own half where they defended fairly well. Unfortunately a missed tackle in the middle of the field allowed their centre to scamper through for a try at the side of the posts. It was duly converted and they were in the lead for the first time. 3-7
In the few minutes remaining before half time Ben Wilkinson made a clean break and was almost through but he was stopped short and due to lack of support the chance came to nothing.
Now talk of Wilkinson in the team at stand off caused some Accies supporters a bit of excitement before the match but it was young Irishman Ben and not Jonnie that was playing. Never the less Ben is a good prospect and will surely get better with more first team games.
Then a clean break by Ali McLaren looked highly promising but his delayed pass was spilled when a try looked odds on.
At the half time whistle Accies were still 3-7 behind but could have no real cause for grievance, as they simply had not played well enough to be in the lead.
After half time the Accies support hoped for better things but all through the 3rd quarter Caithness kept Accies pinned down even missing with a drop goal and a kickable penalty.


Eventually in the final quarter Accies started to play some good rugby and had numerous scoring chances that were thwarted by stout and resolute defending and fragile hands and poor decision making by their experimental back division.
The quarter started well enough as Ali McLaren kicked another lovely penalty into the wind to narrow the scoreline to 6-7.
Three excellent chances then came in short order. Firstly Ross Chassells made a good run down the left touchline, then Ali Mclaren jinked his way to the goal line but was stopped short and finally Cruz burst through the defence but his final pass went astray.
The best chances, however, came from two driving mauls that the Accies forwards controlled well but instead of continuing all the way to the line they released the ball prematurely and the backs were unable to break through.
Despite 7 minutes of injury time Accies could not secure the winning score.
In their defence it has to be said that during the second half they lost three key players all with ankle injuries. Jack Walker was first to leave the field followed by Ali Mclaren and then Matt Smith. Hopefully their injuries are not too serious as the Shield tie against Annan is on the 4th of April.
This was a meaningless end of season league game but even so Accies need to adopt a mindset that treats all games as vital cup ties if they are to prove themselves in the future.
Next Saturday they are away to Newton Stewart.
The final league game of the season is against Kilmarnock at New Anniesland on 28th March at 3pm. All supporters are urged to come out and see the season over.
Well done to the 2nd XV for their 20-3 win over Cumbernauld.
Finally congratulations to Hawks for the remarkable come back from 21-6 to beat Watsonians at Myreside by 22-21. Surely this means Premier 1 rugby at Anniesland next season.

This article was posted on 8-Mar-2009, 11:01 by Hugh Barrow.