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Match against Newton Stewart
Date: Saturday 5th September 2009
Kick-off time: 1500 hours
Location: Bladnoch Park Wigtown
Competition: SHE Nat League Div 2
Final score: Newton Stewart 18 Glasgow Accies 17
Accies Pipped at the Post
Accies came away from this match feeling pretty sorry for themselves for everything had conspired against them and they were fairly unlucky to lose the game.
The problems started with team selection. They were massively short of a full first team squad due to no fewer than 20 players being unavailable due to a combination of injuries, work commitments, holidays and a wedding. Even on Friday evening there was a late call off in the forwards that left the coaches with a massive headache. Eventually they fielded a team with six changes from the previous week. Two in the backs to replace Mike Hermes and Richard McKnight and four in the forwards to replace Steve Begley, Robin Bryant, Graeme Ker and Graeme Simpson. Of the first choice replacements only Fraser Cameron returned. This left two debutants in the back row, John Fitzpatrick and Frenchman, Arno Favre.
It a long and twisty road to Newton Stewart and after a week of almost continuous rain Bladnoch Park was soft, bumpy and in places pretty hairy. Never at any time an easy place to play. To compound this, despite the sunshine and warmth there was a stiff and tricky breeze blowing diagonally across the pitch.
Playing against the wind Accies started the match aggressively pinning Newton Stewart down in the early skirmishes. For 15 minutes they were well on top and should probably have taken the option to kick the three penalties on offer. Instead they continued to drive forward against a resolute defence in which the tackling of the two centres and full back was outstanding throughout the afternoon.
Gradually Newton Stewart eased themselves into the game and the pressure came on to Accies. In the 15th minute they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts that they duly kicked to take a 3-0 lead.
At this stage Accies became all jittery and mistakes were starting to appear in the handling and defence. In the 21st minute Newton Stewart took full advantage of this as their centre sailed through a wide gap to score a try under the post that was duly converted for a 10-0 lead. The support work of Newton Stewart was exemplary as time after time small breaks became big gaps and Accies had to scramble back in defence.
In the 30th minute all this good work paid off for them when the right-winger chipped the ball over the Accies defender and won the race to the touchdown.
15-0 and things looking ominous.
Accies realising that they were in severe danger of a thumping dug in and were unlucky when an Ali McLaren penalty struck the very top of an upright and came back to be cleared. Accies were even unluckier when the found that Ali McLaren had lost his footing in the attempt to kick the penalty and was unable to take any further part in the game. This was crucial as Accies did not have a replacement kicker of Ali’s class and a number of kicking opportunities were to arise in the second half.
Half Time Newton Stewart 15 Accies 0
Whatever Coach Donald Reid said at half time should be bottled and used again because there was a total transformation in Accies play during the second half. They became much more aggressive, passes stuck, scrums, rucks and mauls became secure and Accies ran with more fluidity than at any time in the last two games. Such was the change that they scored three tries and won the second half by 17-3.
It was now the turn of Newton Stewart to become panicky. They tried to kill the ball at every opportunity but Mr McLean the referee from Cambuslang was having none of it and awarded a string of penalties and two yellow cards in an effort to keep the game flowing.
In the 51st minute Accies finally got on the score sheet. Four penalties in a row inside the Newton Stewart 22, lead, eventually, to scrum half Richard Taylor forcing his way over in the corner for an unconverted try. With this number of penalties the referee was surely thinking of a penalty try.
Accies continued to keep on the pressure with the forwards driving improving with every minute. On the hour mark the ball reached left winger Dougie Horne and with some work still to do he powered his way past two men to get the touchdown in the corner for another unconverted try.
10-15 and Accies on a roll.
With 10 minutes remaining Accies scored the best try of the game. Max Henderson gathered an awkward bouncing ball just outside his 22 and when he looked as if he was about to be devoured by an avenging horde he managed to slip the ball away to the unmarked Dougie Horne, who had covered from the opposite wing. He scorched up the right wing, beat the defender and cut into the middle of the field. When challenged by the full back he timed his pass to Craig Wright to perfection and the little winger roared home for a try converted by Alan Wilson.
Accies in the lead for the first time by 17-15 and five minutes to go.
Ironically at this point Newton Stewart fought their way into the Accies 22 for the first time in the half and were awarded a penalty for ball killing. This was converted and Accies were down by 17-18.
The last valiant efforts to win the game came to nought and a single point was enough for Accies to lose the game despite heading the try count by 3 to 2.
Accies have now lost their first two games by a single score and a victory next week against Cambuslang is essential if they are to keep up the challenge.
With the return to a full squad and a number of players from the 2nd XV pressing for selection the season should really get underway.
The 2nd XV had a highly creditable start to their league season by beating Newton Stewart 2nd XV by 37-17 away from home, despite being short of a full squad of forwards
FINAL SCORE: Newton Stewart 18 Glasgow Accies 17
Accies Squad:
15. Ali McLaren
14. Craig Wright
13. Stewart Smith
12. Jamie Doig
11. Dougie Horne
10. Alan Wilson
09. Richard Taylor
01. David Calder
02. Matteo Giovanazzi
03. Fabi Marchetti
04. Fraser Cameron
05. Cruz Kakaweni
06. Arno Favre
07. Adam Howie
08. John Fitzpatrick
Replacements:
16. Matt Franklin
17. Max Henderson
18.
This article was posted on 6-Sep-2009, 10:26 by Hugh Barrow.
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