GLASGOW ACCIES 1st.XV vs. ANNAN ( Away.) ….SAT. 4th.APRIL, 2009.

S.H.E. SHIELD COMPETITION.. - …2nd. ROUND TIE

Following the disappointing result in last week’s final league match against Kilmarnock, our coaches re-ignited the team for this cup tie against Annan from National Division 1.
Attitude and commitment were transformed, because in spite of two late fitness call-offs, one by Mark Taylor ( a Hawks 2nd.XV centre) and Ross Chassells (Wing), the team really rose to the occasion, with a fine and gritty performance. As the result of a shortage of fit backs, the team selection showed No.8 Graeme Simpson being moved to play at inside centre, an astute move which brought solidity and drive to the mid-field, and Craig Wright who had been unavailable for most of the season was introduced as his centre partner for his first game in the 1st.XV this season, following the late Saturday morning call-off by Mark Taylor. Iain Williamson also got a Saturday morning call-up from the bench, to replace Ross Chassells on the wing, who had not fully recovered from injury. With the unavailability of Fabio Marchetti at prop, Jamie Coskry had been drafted in to the side which ultimately read as follows :-
15. Ali McLaren 14. Mike Hermes 13. Craig Wright 12. Graeme Simpson
11. Iain Williamson 10. Alan Wilson 9. Richard McKnight (Capt.)

1. Allan Perrie 2. Matteo Giovanazzi 3. Jamie Coskry
4. Cruz Kawakameni 5. Fraser Cameron
6. Dave McLoughlan 8. Jack Walker 7. Chris Wright

Subs. Robin Bryant, Chris McAlpine, and Ross Chassells.

On a beautifully sunny afternoon, Accies played into the wind in the first half. Annan took an early lead with a penalty down-wind from close to halfway SCORE….3 – 0.
Accies responded well some 10 minutes later with an excellent try. From some 10 metres inside our half, Richard McKnight broke from a loose maul, carrying over half way he then passed to the supporting Cruz who took it into the Annan 22 metre line where he sent out a long pass to Iain Williamson who raced in at the left corner for an unconverted try. SCORE….3 – 5. Accies were up against it for the first half hour, but didn’t panic, and with dogged determination, and some excellent play, held the score at 3 – 5 . Another superb move saw Accies nearly score but the final pass was forward. Annan, with a strong clearance kick, took play back to Accies 22, from where their robust forwards drove to the line and snatched a good try which was converted. SCORE….10 – 5. In the 37th. minute Annan converted a further penalty to take the score at HALF-TIME to 13 – 5.
In spite of the 13 – 5 score line, Accies had played by far the better rugby and kept a control on the game, despite some controversial refereeing decisions which gave Annan the opportunity to stay in the game.

Accies maintained their discipline extremely well, but unfortunately in the 50th.minute prop Jamie Coskry was felled by the Annan No.4 whose blatant “off the ball” left hook went unseen by the referee, and sadly enforced Jamie’s immediate retiral with a horrific split lip that necessitated an immediate visit to the Southern General A. and E. Dept.
Chris McAlpine a very promising prop in his first year out of the Academy came on in his place. Accies were spurred on by this adversity, but sadly some over-exuberance by Richard McKnight saw him yellow-carded after 55 minutes. Fortunately, reserve scrum half Iain Williamson who had been playing on the left wing was able to replace Richard at scrum half.
Amusingly, in McKnight’s 10 minute absence, Accies scored two fine tries!! The first, in the 58th. minute, saw Cruz Kawakameni breaking from a loose maul 10 metres out and scoring a fine individual try, which was converted by Ali McLaren who had one of his finest performances for Accies, with some beautiful incisive running from full-back, and some excellent fielding of many high balls. He was afterwards voted man of the match.
SCORE ….13 – 12.
Jack Walker, with a leg injury, was replaced by Robin Bryant who went in to the second row, with Cruz moving to No.8. The next try, in the 63rd minute, started from the half-way line with centre Craig Wright taking on, and rounding his opposite number to scamper the 40 metres to the line for a superb unconverted try. SCORE …13 – 17.
Richard McKnight returned to play after a clear 12 minutes, ….the referee deciding to run the sin binning to it’s maximum benefit.
The team held their composure, and played some excellent rugby before, in the 75th. minute, they showed their superiority with a final score which followed a very good handling movement, with the ball passing through many sets of hands before reaching Mike Hermes some 20 metres out on the left who then sliced through their defence, for the final score.
Accies deserved this victory, playing the more attractive rugby with a 4 – 1 try count.
It was good to see the team regain its confidence, and maintain the discipline necessary to overcome the effect of some frustrating refereeing decisions. Donald Reid and the coaches can be rightly proud of the team’s performance, and its achievement of progressing to the last eight of the SHIELD Competition.
Our next opponents are Peebles, AWAY in two weeks time on SATURDAY 18th.APRIL.

It will be a tough match against the SHE Premier 2 side, but our team has turned a corner, and can take real satisfaction from the Annan match in which they performed with a presence and confidence which has been lacking for the last few weeks.

PLEASE CONSIDER COMING TO PEEBLES FOR THIS QUARTER FINAL TIE.

YOUR SUPPORT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY THE PLAYERS.

KICK-OFF IS 3.00pm…..CONTACT GORDON WILSON…07595.218497, OR

ALASDAIR GRAHAM…07740.777498, FOR A SEAT ON THE BUS.
DEPARTING NEW ANNIESLAND..11.00AM………………continue to 2nd.XV.
GLASGOW ACCIES….2nd.XV ….vs…..EAST KILBRIDE at NEW ANNIESLAND.

This was the 2nd.XV’s final match of the season, which if they could win, would ensure them third place in the 2nd.XV League… Division 5 (West.). There had been rumour to suggest there may be some clubs having to give up their places in the 2nd.XV Leagues which could perhaps see more than the usual two teams being promoted. Accies therefore had much to play for, particularly since their opponents, East Kilbride, lieing in 4th.position, were the only team who can overtake them. A win was crucial !!
As if that wasn’t enough to fire a team up for a victory, and that is exactly what resulted.
An excellent win of 16 – 7 in a fairly even but hard fought match gave the boys the perfect result. Stand-off Ben Wilkinson opened the scoring with a penalty, followed by an excellent break from half-way by Mark Hannah who raced in for a fine individual try.
SCORE ….8 – 0.
The next score was again by Accies, and what a score it was ! Paddy Ross, from a line-out on the East Kilbride 22, broke up the blind side, and with three opponents holding onto him, still managed to drive to the line, and stretch for the touch down for one of the best tries of the season. …..SCORE…13 – 0.
East Kilbride were certainly not going to go down without a fight, and eventually their strong pack drove from Accies 22 for a good try which was converted….SCORE .13 – 7.
A victory was in the balance right to the end, but, eventually in the final minutes Accies secured the win from a Ben Wilkinson penalty………..SCORE….16 – 7. This was a real team effort with all 17 players playing their part. Well done guys.
Paddy Ross was declared Accies man of the match, …and the celebrations were two fold, with the eventual return of the victorious 1st.XV from their success at Annan. This is surely what club rugby is all about. I’m sure a very proud Gordon Mackay would be enjoying the celebrations too, …and well into the night !
Nigel Campbell is to be congratulated for his leadership and coaching of the 2nd.XV throughout the season. Clubs could not succeed without such committed members.

2nd.XV ..Team. 15. DAVE MILLER

14. GARY SMITH 13 DONALD MARTIN 12. MARK HANNAH 11.PAUL WHITE

10. BEN WILKINSON 9. RICHARD TAYLOR (Capt.)

1. ROBERT FULLER 2. PADDY ROSS 3. MATT FRANKLIN

4. MIKE HENRY 5. JAMIE ROBERTS

6. JAMIE WILLIAMSON 8. MIKE O’NEIL 7. CHRIS HALL

RESERVES ;- MASSI MARCHETTI ALEX BRUN



Gordon Wilson….6 April, 09.

This article was posted on 6-Apr-2009, 12:15 by Hugh Barrow.