Good morning everyone,
The state of euphoria still exists at New Anniesland as both the 1st and 2nd XV's won again on Saturday. There is a real buzz in the Clubhouse as each Saturday is looked forward with anticipation. It is amazing how confidence surges through a Club when its teams are on a winning run.
Last Saturday was a great day altogether. Brian Lockhart had organised a Prematch lunch for all the players who had played with him in the 1960's and 1970's. 53 people turned up and Brian entertained them with a highly amusing speech reminiscing on life with the Accies during that period. People travelled far and wide to join in and I am sure they enjoyed an excellent lunch provided by Ken Barron and a great game ofd rugby played by the players. The extra support from the stand created a terrific atmosphere and the roar when Accies scored the winning try could be heard miles away. The players said how much they had enjoyed playing in front of such an enthusiastic crowd.
Last Saturday Accies were without three of  their larger forwards, Sandy Fitzpatrick, Steve Begley and Jack Walker, all out through injury. Fortunately Robin Bryant and Andy Jackson came back to help out in a good performance from the pack. As we move into the winter and heavier pitches we will need these big boys back to win the forward battle.
In the backs, scrum half, Richard Mcknight was away but will be back on Saturday for the game against Kilmarnock.
Modern rugby is a tough game and injuries are inevitable but we have recruited an excellent medical team lead by Dr. George McLaren, physio Kirsty Waltho, a lass from Oban, and extremely sore but highly effective rub man with steel fingers, Oscar. This team plus the purchase of some top rate equipment certainly speed up the recovery process.
The team news for this week is fairly good and the only doubt is Steve Begley who will have a fitness test today. Jack Walker is out for a week or two to give his shoulder time to heal. The coaches therefore have a selection problem of the best sort and that is who to leave out of a winning team.
A mention must go to the 2nd XV so ably managed by Nigel Campbell, lead by captain and scrum half Richard Taylor and assisted by Duncan Beattie and Jimmy Gossman as coaches and physio Erin. They are such a good team that everyone is clamouring to play for them.
On Saturday they played second top of the league Cumbernauld and won by 27-11. They were able to demonstrate their skills to a very large touchline audience as the 1st XV game had been delayed by 45 minutes due to the late arrival of Hawick YM who had been held up on the M8 due to an accident.
In the threequarters they have the vital ingredient of youth and experience. Full back Ross Chassels, centre Ewan Donald, wing Ian Williamson and stand off Ali McLaren have all played regular first team rugby. Garry Smith on the left wing played for Aberdeen University and the young and promising centre Andrew Smart left the Academy two years ago.
The pack is less experienced with the exception of Alan Perrie and Andy Dunlop who, with a combined age of well over 90 bring the average age well up. Prop Chris McAlpine and hooker Jason Sime are both products of the Academy from two years ago. 6'-8" Robert Fuller came to us fro Forrester and Scott Buchanan, another Academy boy, make up the second row. Frenchman Arno Favre, a newcomer this year, Andy Dunlop and Glasgow Academy rugby coach Matt Bull form an effective back row.
The side have now won eight out of eight and scored 346 points, an average of nearly 44 a game.
They have done this despite a catalogue of injuries especially amongst the forwards with Jamie Williamson, Paul Howell, Kerr Gibson, Kenneth Beattie, Chris Hall and Scott Thorburn all recovering from early season knocks.
The threequarters have not been so badly hit with only James Lindsay with a broken wrist out for a few weeks.
This Saturday they travel to Troon to play Marr, always a tough game. As Jimmy Smith once said, "there are no penalties in Ayrshire old boy, if you are the away team."
The 1st XV play Kilmarnock at New Anniesland on Saturday. Please note that the kick off is at 2pm.
It should be an entertaining game, so why not make the effort and come out and give the boys a shout.

Alasdair Graham
 

This article was posted on 28-Oct-2009, 08:33 by Hugh Barrow.