Glasgow Accies 32 Waysiders/Drumpellier 22

Saturday 11th September 2010

New Anniesland
An Amazing Transformation
When referee Eddie Rea blew the final whistle at New Anniesland this afternoon the collective sigh of relief could be heard at Anniesland Cross. Accies had produced the biggest transformation seen in any sporting event for a very long time. Every sporting cliché that you have ever heard could apply to this game. Game of two half’s, curates egg, chicken and egg, Jekyle & Hyde etc all applied in equal measure. From the team that entertained so royally two weeks ago they had become uncertain, jittery, picking wrong options and defensively as leaky as a colander. Waysiders were all over their forwards like a rash. It took them 1 minute to score. Accies failed to gather the kick off and were penalised. 0-3

Six minutes later their big centre simply poured through the centre of the defence to score under the posts. Try converted. 0-10

17th minute repeat dose 0-17.

He had to be stopped and to be fair Jamie Doig, playing for the first time this season and Dougie Horner his fellow centre got their act together and his threat was cancelled.

As the game moved into the second quarter Accies started to exert some pressure and in the 21st minute Ali McLaren knocked over a penalty after he was taken out illegally from his little chip ahead.

Slowly but surely Accies were easing back into the game but loose passes allowed Waysiders to clear away from the danger area using long kicks downfield with the stiff breeze behind them.

More problems for Accies as Jack Walker went off with a shoulder injury after 29 minutes to be replaced by Chris Wright who had come onto the bench when Andy Jackson broke down during the warm up.

Waysiders stepped up the pressure and kept Accies pinned close to their line. Another score had to come and it did three minutes from half time. A kick ahead looked as if it was going over the dead ball line but as Accies backs looked on the Waysiders centre spotted the opportunity and reached it before it went dead. 3-22.

Fortunately right on the half time whistle Waysiders infringed again and Ali McLaren slotted a good penalty. 6-22 and halftime.

Now it becomes interesting. Whatever was said by the coaching team at half time

worked and they should remember it for the future.

Sinners became saints. One wag in the stand suggested the team had swapped shirts at halftime. The aggressive and dynamic Waysiders suddenly became Accies of the first half as their confidence and discipline imploded. Accies took full advantage of this from the kick off when Ali McLaren kicked a beautiful goal for 9-22.Three minutes later the referee played an excellent advantage and Ali McLaren ghosted through the defence for a try that he converted himself 16-22 and game on.

Wayfarers were now giving away penalties in desperation and in the 53rd minute a late tackle by their No. 7 cost them a yellow card and Ali McLaren kicked another goal. 19-22.

This was quickly followed by a sweeping movement by forwards and backs down the right touchline that culminated in Graeme Simpson getting the touchdown and Accies


2.
were in a lead that the never lost 24-22. Two minutes later a penalty for illegal use of an elbow and once again Ali McLaren slotted a difficult penalty 27-22

At this stage Fabi Marchetti a natural tight head prop came on and this stiffened up the pack to the extent that two strikes against the head were won.

Waysiders weren’t finished yet and the game was still in the balance however one of the back moves broke down on the Accies ten metre line and Ali McLaren picked up the loose ball to send Mike Hermes romping off down the right touchline for the final and clinching try. 32-22.

With ten minutes remaining Accies were within touching distance of the four try bonus point especially when Matt Smith set off on a long lung-bursting run through the centre of the field. His valiant effort was cut short with a solid defensive tackle. Waysiders then had a further two players yellow carded but Accies could not get that final try and credit has to go to the visitors for keeping them at bay.

A strange game that ended well for Accies but they will have to learn that they have to start in the first minute rather than the 41st as they are unlikely to get away with this again.

After three games Accies have 11 points and lie second in the table behind Hawick YM. Next Saturday they have to make the long trip to Inverness where they won last year a win that got their season under way and a number of straight victories followed.

This article was posted on 11-Sep-2010, 20:51 by Hugh Barrow.