Good morning everyone
From the above score you will see that we are still on track to catch Lasswade should they make a slip. Accies have three league games remaining, all away from home. Lasswade have four games three at home and one away. Accies are in second-place three points ahead of Lasswade so it is all still to play for.
The match report this week was compiled by Brian Barclay and I am grateful to him for standing in on my absence.
This Saturday Accies play Dalziel at New Anniesland in the quarter final of the SHE Shield. Dalziel are top of National League Division 1 and are unbeaten this season. This will be a huge test for Accies but it looks as if we will be able to field an almost full strength side, apart from the long term injuries, so it should be a well contested match.
We need a large Accies support to cheer the boys on. The game kicks off at 3-00pm and there will be soup and sandwiches available pre match. Please put the date in your diary and encourage your family and friends to come to the game and ensure a great atmosphere.

Alasdair Graham

GLASGOW ACCIES 41 HIGHLAND 14
New Anniesland
Saturday 20th March 2010 2.30 Kick Off
Referee: Eddie Rae
 
By Your roving correspondent  
 
On a glorious mild and sunny Saturday the general consensus amongst the ‘buffties’ pre-match, was this was a great day for a game of rugby. And so it was to prove with Accies running up 6 tries to their opponents 2, earning us the vital bonus point that keeps up the pressure on Lasswade who are now 3 points behind us, but with a game in hand.
 
The conditions at kick off. were ideal. The main pitch is a bit thread bare in areas, and with little or no rain recently to speak of, quite dry all over, giving both sides the opportunity to run the ball when given the opportunity. The referee, realising that both sides were here to play rugby, was not over officious and that enabled some great passages of play to flow, mainly by Accies.
 
Highland kicked off playing towards the clubhouse but the ball unfortunately for them didn’t go the 10m. From the resultant scrum Accies were nudged off their own put in by the big Highland pack, but thereafter we more than held our own in the set pieces.  Accies showed their running intent and a good break by Brad Bell took us into the opposition 22 but with a 3 to 2 overlap and looking dangerous, we were penalised and the danger was cleared. However it was not long before the first try was scored. A great break by Stu Smith around halfway was well supported by Brad Bell who scored a good try that was converted by Richard McKnight. 7-0 to Accies and 12 minutes on the clock.
 
It wasn’t long before Accies got their next try, when a poor pass from their scrum half was knocked on by their stand off, and the ball sat up and Jamie Doig, quickly pounced and ran in try No.2 from 30m out, which Richard McKnight converted, 14-0 and 16 minutes played. It was great to see Accies running ball back from all field positions and a promising looking break from Andrew Smart, came to nothing just inside Highlands half. On 23mins an Accies short line out in Highlands 22 nearly resulted in a try but the return inside pass was knocked on by an opponent’s hand, but from the resultant scrum Accies were awarded a penalty for offside, and Richard McKnight struck another 3 points to keep the scoreboard ticking over. 17-0 and 24 minutes on the clock.
 
The Highland restart kick again did not go 10m and from the scrum Kenneth Beattie drew his man before passing to Richard McKnight, then onto Craig Wright who gave the scoring pass to Mike Hermes far on the right. Richard McKnight converted for 24-0 and 26 minutes on the clock.
 
It was all Accies at this stage and Highland did not appear to have any answers to our expansive play and hard running. And on 36 minutes Accies should have scored again but a 9, 10, 14 move, was penalised for crossing and the chance was lost. Not long after Highland got their first try from a driving maul, which was converted at 38 minutes.
 
Half time score Accies 24 Highland 7
 
Within 3 minutes of the restart Accies had the bonus point in the bag with their 4th try scored by Stu Smith who side stepped his way past several despairing defenders to score to the left of the posts. Richard McKnight converted again to make the score 31-7.
 
Highland were stung by this and were unlucky not to score but stout Accies defence held them up over our try line. Accies could not clear their line but neither could Highland convert pressure into points. There was then a period of play for 10-15 minutes that was frantic and ambitious but with neither team managing to break into the others 22.  
 
Then came the move of the match when Accies, close to their own line, ran the ball the full length of the pitch with Brad Bell being bundled into touch 5m out from their try line. From the resulting lineout and ruck, the backline spun the ball wide to Mike Hermes to score in the right hand corner. Score 36-7 and Richard McKnight’s conversion attempt came off the left hand post.
 
Again Highland were stung into action and after a period of stout defence of our line, Highland scored to the left of our posts and the try was converted to make it 36-14 on 75 minutes. Not to be outdone, Accies then scored with an almost an identical backline movement to their previous try, with Mike Hermes again scoring out on the right, to make the final score 41-14.  It is great to see Mike scoring tries freely again and he was deservedly awarded man of the match award later on.
 
This was another good win for Accies with some great running rugby. The team each week seem to take over where they left off in the previous match, and they all appear to be enjoying their rugby and are working hard for each other. We all know we are dependent on Lasswade losing one of their final games, if we are to have a realistic chance of promotion.  By playing the way we have done over the last 3 games, gives us the best chance of catching and overtaking them.  
 
TEAM -
15 Brad Bell
14 Craig Wright
13 Andrew Smart  (Max Henderson)
12 Stu Smith
11 Mike Hermes
10 Jamie Doig  
9 Richard McKnight
8 Kenneth Beattie
7 Andrew Jackson
6 Claudio Urra  
5 Graeme Simpson (Jack Walker)
4 Robin Bryant
3 Matt Franklin (Chris McAlpine)
2 Matteo Giovanazzi
1 Fabio Marchetti
 
Subs
 
Max Henderson
Jack Walker
Chris McAlpine
 

This article was originally posted on 23-Mar-2010, 07:45 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 23-Mar-2010, 07:47.