Spirited comeback just falls short "
 
Accies travelled to Bellsland in good spirits, albeit with a number of changes in the line up, with new Head Coach - Ewen Smith & Dunc Beattie in charge, but Bellsland is a tough place to go to get a result and with Kilmarnock going strong in the league the challenge was clear to see.
 
The game opened brightly for Accies with the first real chance going to Accies as Mike Hermes fielded a clearance kick, ran back infield and cleverly looping round the pass made the break. His offload was hacked through by Stuart Seaton but he couldn't make up the ground as the ball limped over the deadball line.
Kilmarnock are not third top for nothing and stormed back into the game with a typically robust effort as they mixed up hard running backs and good tight play from the forwards to drive to Accies line and their No.8 - Gordon Laurie dove over from a close range ruck to open the scoring. Converted by Stand-off Colin Sturgeon.
 
Killie 7 - Accies 0
 
Accies got a quick score back via the boot of Ali McLaren. 
 
KIllie 7 - Accies 3
 
The game continued to ebb and flow with Killie having bags of power and pace and being very good at stripping possession in the tackle and maul. Accies pulled themselves together and laid seige to the Kilmarnock line with a series of scrums 5 metres out and one (to this observers eye) clear try by Graeme Simpson, however the referee was unsighted and no try was awarded. The following passge of play resulted in Ali McLaren closing the gap with an easy penalty kick.
 
Killie 7 - Accies 6
 
Killie struck back, again a very impressive all round team effort of pressure and power with Accies conceding the penalty which Stand Off - Colin Sturgeon stroked over for a half time lead of 10 - 6.
 
Clearly the half time oranges were good for Killie and bad for Accies as Killie stormed out of the blocks for a 15 minute blitzkreig on Accies scoring 2 tries (1 converted) to surge into a 22 - 6 lead and from an Accies perspective, things were looking grim... Quite simply they were a yard ahead of Accies all over the pitch during this purple patch.
However, as we all know the game lasts for 80 minutes and slowly but surely Accies clawed their way back into the game, first with a penalty from Ali McLaren to make it 22 - 9.
It was by no means one way traffic as this Kilmarnock side are far superior to last seasons vintage, and with an excellent centre pairing (Christie & Bradford) catching the eye with powerful runs on the angle and strong defence, the game ebbed and flowed but Accies began to put together good phases of play and take control with a second disallowed try from Stuart Smith being cancelled out  for apparently knocking on in the act of grounding the ball. Accies persisted, moving the ball slightly wider, stretching Kilmarnock and with 10 minutes to go on the third or fourth phase, the ball went through the Accies backs' hands and winger Tom Cullen scorched in for the try, which Ali McLaren boomed over from wide on the left and the grandstand finish was on.
 
Killie 22 - Accies 16
 
Accies' dander was up and it was game on as a converted try would win the game but, as always, father time waits for no man and it was getting tight. Accies threw everything they had at Killie with a series of rucks and good movement in the backs, testing Killie at every point. After what seemed like phase 6 or 7 the ball was moved left, the half break was on and the ball popped up for Matteo Geovannazzi to power over from 10 yards out with two Killie players in very close attention.   
 
Sadly for Accies, Ali McLaren's conversion just drifted wide on the wind and the full time whistle blew. 
 
Full time: Kilmarnock 22 - Accies 21
 
A losing bonus point gained will be scant consolation for Accies given two disallowed tries, but credit to Kilmarnock as they were a powerful unit all round,  took their chances, built their lead and just hung on to gain the win.
      
Stephen Winter 

This article was posted on 19-Feb-2011, 20:38 by Hugh Barrow.