Glasgow Accies 5 Hawick YM 0
Saturday 24th October 2009
New Anniesland
 
Despite the scoreline this was a highly exciting game of rugby where the result was in doubt until the 70th minute when finally Accies got the decisive score to make it four wins in a row.
On a greasy pitch that made the ball slippery two sides of contrasting styles battled it out in an end-to-end struggle. Both sides had their chances to seal the game but by the end Accies looked the likelier winners
In the first half YM probably shaded the territorial statistics but this was reversed in the second when Accies playing towards the Clubhouse had a slight wind advantage.
Hawick were determined to keep Accies pinned down in their own half through the prodigious kicking of their stand off but they probably kicked away too much good possession. The Accies defenders handled the kick ahead pretty well and were sound under the high ball at fullback and on the wings often running the ball back to good effect.
Accies tried to play it through their bid centres crashing through the middle of the field where Stewart Smith was particularly effective. Accies also used their back row more often as support runners with Cruz, Andy Jackson and Claudio Urra putting in powerful performances.
Needless to say from the scoreline the tackling in defence by both sides was immense. Accies continually forced YM to shuffle across the field and the cover by Mike Hermes saved two certain tries. YM’s determined defence brought off at least four try saving tackles.
In the second half Accies had most of the real scoring opportunities with runs from Jamie Doig, Stewart Smith, Cruz, Brad Bell and Andy Jackson all being cut short right on the line.
Accies were nearest to scoring in the first half and Brad Bell claimed that he had fallen on the ball on the try line but the referee said he had not had a clear view and awarded a scrum five from which YM cleared to safety.
Accies scrummaged excellently and Hooker Matteo Giovanazzi claimed at least six heels against the head three of which were when the scrum was down to 7 men after Andy Jackson was yellow carded following a bout of handbags.
With 10 minutes to go Accies conjured up a try worthy of winning any game. Dougie Horne, who had come onto the right wing as a replacement after an hour, gathered the ball deep inside his own 22 and surged down the wing. He looked certain to score as he left defenders trailing in his wake until a despairing last-ditch hand trip tackle clipped his heels. As he skidded to a halt he flicked the ball up to the supporting Brad Bell. He to looked odds on to score in the corner but the highly motivated YM defence squeezed him into the corner where he delivered an inch perfect pass into the hands of a thundering Stewart Smith and nobody was able to catch him as he crashed over the line for the winning try. The highly enthusiastic, and sizeable crowd in the stand roared their delight.
YM are a very streetwise side and time after time throughout the game were able to turn Accies over. However too often they incurred the wrath of the referee for killing the ball or questioning his decision. Near the end it all ended with them being three times marched back 10 metres and finally their No 8 J. Carmichael was yellow carded.
Next week Accies play Kilmarnock at home and they will need to keep up this level of determination and protect their own ball at the lineouts and rucks if they are to succeed.
Accies 2nd XV put on another impressive performance to beat second placed in the league Cumbernauld 2nd XV by 27-11 gaining a 4 try bonus point in the process. The 2nd XV have now won their first 8 games.

This article was posted on 24-Oct-2009, 22:20 by Hugh Barrow.