Glasgow Accies 41 Allan Glen’s 10
Saturday 25th September 2010
New Anniesland
 
‘Accies Prosper in the Sun’
 
Glasgow Accies clearly enjoy playing on the velvet sward that is the main pitch at New Anniesland. So far they have won three out of three games there this season and have scored 128 points in these games. Once again the sun shone, there was virtually no breeze and the ball was dry, an ideal day for playing running rugby and that is what we got. Both sides threw the ball about with gay abandon; there were lots of mistakes, a huge number of turnovers and some great running from both sides.
Accies won the game because their backs had a cutting edge and more pace and their defence was tighter. Glens had a solid scrummage, superb lineout technique and were very adept at keeping control of the ball. Accies forwards won enough good ball to keep their lively back division in rations. All in all we got a thoroughly enjoyable game of rugby that was well controlled by Mr McLean a competent referee.
The game got off to a most unfortunate start. Glens kicked off, Andy Jackson gathered the kick cleanly, sidestepped his opposite number, who, in his enthusiasm threw himself at Andy and sustained a serious neck injury. The game was stopped for 25 minutes to allow an ambulance to get onto the pitch and remove the injured player. The injury is not thought to be too serious but the diagnosis is still awaited.
The first 20 minutes proved to be inconclusive with both sides squandering reasonable chances with moves that were probably too ambitious and passes going to ground rather than to hand.
In the 20th minute Accies broke the deadlock. Accies stepped up the pace to another level and Stewart Smith surged into the Glens midfield defence and created enough space for Ross Chassels to squeeze through the gap for the opening try.5-0
Less than a minute later Glens kicked a penalty when Accies were caught offside at a ruck following the kick off 5-3
In the 25th minute, stung by this Accies roared back and from a scrum 10 metres from the line a simple passing move ended with right winger Mike Hermes touching down to show how easy it was to score when moves are not too complicated. Ali McLaren’s conversion attempt from the touchline came back off the far post. 10-3.
Again, straight from the kick off Accies were penalised for obstruction. The penalty dropped under the post but the clearance kick was gathered by the fullback who set off at pace and linked with his left-winger who cleverly eased over in the corner for a try that was converted. 10-10.
For the next 5 minutes the game was played at a frantic pace. The referee signalled a penalty to Accies but continued to play advantage. The ball pooped out from a ruck and Craig Wright gathered it and had enough pace to romp home from 30 metres for a try converted by Ali McLaren. 17-10.
There was still enough time before the end of the half for Jamie Robertson and the Glens No. 6 to get yellow carded for a spot of handbags and Accies to miss a golden opportunity to increase their score when they lost control of the ball after a long run through the centre of the field by No. 8 Graeme Simpson.
Half time 17-10
The Accies support was expecting their team to crack on in the second half and step up the pressure for the bonus point. It nearly happened when Mike Hermes turned on the after burners and surged away for 60 metres only to be caught in the corner by a superb tackle by the Glens fullback.
Then it happened. In the space of two minutes on the hour mark Accies scored twice. Stewart Smith took a short penalty and made good ground before releasing it to Adam Taylor, Adam Taylor’s pass found Stephen O’Donnell who found Ross Chassels on his right hand with enough room to romp in for a try converted by Ali McLaren. 24-10 and the precious bonus point safely in the locker. A minute later Ali McLaren gathered a loose kick just inside his own half and after a series of dummies, feints to left and right, a sidestep and past three or four Glens players and a few of his own he touched down for a wonderful solo try. He was so exhausted by this that he, not surprisingly, missed the conversion. 29-10
He wasn’t finished yet. 7 minutes later, in the 68th minute, he scored again. This time it was much more conventional. The forwards won quick ball from a ruck inside the 22 and fed Stewart Smith who had Ali outside him with oodles of space and it was a simple run in for a try he converted himself. 36-10.
In the remaining 12 minutes Glens kept Accies under control and although they could not score themselves they limited Accies to one more try. An Accies breakout found Ali Mclaren in space with second row forward Adam Thomson outside him and he wasted little time in getting the final touch down. 41-10
This was a much better performance from Accies than last week. The big guns were back in the form of Craig Wright, Stewart Smith, Dougie Horner, Adam Thomson and Andy Jackson and the team looked like a side that could still get promotion especially if they start winning on the road.
The next big test will be at Caithness next Saturday.
 
 

This article was posted on 25-Sep-2010, 21:40 by Hugh Barrow.