Glasgow Accies 21 Berwick 20
Saturday 26th March 2011
New Anniesland
 
The Game That Had Everything
 
Wow. Those of us in the smallish crowd at New Anniesland were treated to a real treat of compelling, enthralling, running ruby by two sides that were determined to demonstrate how the game should be played. No quarter was given or taken in a game played in great spirit on a perfect windless spring day on a dry and well-grassed surface.
It was second top Berwick against and Accies side that had given some pretty lack lustre performances since the New Year. Berwick played well, the best they have played for weeks said their committeemen, but Accies played better and just deserved their narrow victory. The cheer that went up at the full time whistle could have been heard at Anniesland Cross.
Even before the game there was interest. Prop forward Fabio Marchetti was stuck in Paris and so Dave Calder had to step in. New coach Ewan Smith had made his intentions clear by shuffling the threequarters. Ali McLaren moved to scrum half from stand off, Stewart Smith from centre to scrum half and Stephen O’Donnell from scrum half to centre. Fortunately they are all good players and the coach was proved right with the best back play for weeks. Ali was a complete pain in the neck to Berwick with his scuttling runs from the base of rucks, mauls and scrums. Stewart was given space for his thundering runs through the centre of the defence and Stephen handled the ball beautifully and let very little pass through the centre defence line. Add to that two wingers eager to run at every opportunity, Craig Wright fielding competently and coming into the line whenever an opportunity arose and finally young Stuart Seaton playing his best game since coming into the 1st XV. All in all it looked a very classy back line with the only fault being the number of running forwards getting into positions that slowed the backs down.
The game started with a searing break by Stewart Smith from the Berwick kick off, continued by Ali McLaren but stopped short of the line. Shortly followed by a 40-metre dart by Tom Cullen that also nearly brought a try. Accies need to get onto the scoreboard but it just would not happen. Slowly but surely Berwick clawed their way back into the game and showed how easy it is to score when your team is on a roll.
In the 10th minute a squint throw in was given again and Berwick attacked wide and with quick ball brought it back infield where Accies were short of defenders and the centre ran through the gap for the opening score. The kick was missed and this proved to be Berwick’s Achilles heel as all four conversions and several penalties were missed.
This was the spur that Accies needed. A lineout in the Berwick 22 was won and the ball flashed along the backline with every back handling it to perfection until Tom Cullen on the opposite touchline was given enough freedom to scuttle through for an unconverted try. This was a try of classic proportions and right out of the coaching manual that says that the speed of the ball from a pass will nearly always beat a defender if it is delivered properly.
The game was rapidly turning into a cracker.
In the 24th minute Berwick showed their power and pace when a loose ball was kicked into they’re half and the fullback set off on a mazy run that was only stopped close to the line. With good backing up Berwick re-gathered the ball and drove over for their second unconverted try.
Back again came Accies and in the 32nd minute they were only thwarted by Berwick giving away a penalty under the posts. Ali McLaren knocked it over for 8-10.
Accies needed to keep it that way till half time but they were to loose an unfortunate score with 4 minutes of the half remaining. Berwick won a scrum five metres from the line and their No.8 picked up and scored despite clearly knocking it on at the base. Even the Berwick support agreed but sadly referee Eddie Rea, who otherwise had an excellent game, missed it.
8-15 Half Time
Accies needed to score quickly in the second half and it took them less than a minute to achieve this. They won the ball from the kick off McLaren broke through the middle of the field and fed Stewart Smith. The big centre was stopped illegally and Accies were awarded a penalty in a kickable position.
Instead of kicking it was taken quickly and fed to Mclaren on the right wing and he simply ghosted through the fragmented defence for a try in the corner. He then put the icing on the cake with a magnificent conversion from the touchline.
15-15
Great stuff and now a real game of rugby was on as Berwick were not down and out by any means. Back they came and in the 54th minute they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Unbelievably it ricochets off the posts back into a pair of Berwick hands and lead to a try that was again unconverted. 15-20.
From now on Accies were mainly in control as gradually Berwick’s discipline and composure seemed to desert them.
In the 66th minute McLaren broke again and seemed to have put Stuart Seaton through but sadly the young centr dropped it over the line. However the referee was playing an advantage and McLaren kicked the subsequent penalty.
It was now getting a bit frantic and Accies were over anxious and scorned good scoring chances.
In the 78th minute with time running out a great run out of defence by fullback Craig Wright and winger Tom Cullen and then Stewart Smith lead to a penalty wide on the right when the Berwick fullback threw the ball into touch and was promptly yellow carded. Could Ali McLaren finish it off, sadly no as the ball shaved the uprights. Berwick dropped out from the 22 in the opposite direction and were penalised for yet again going offside. This was not an easier kick but it was better for the right-footed kicker. Ali set it up very deliberately and like a laser beam it dissected the uprights. 21-20.
Game over we thought as we were 4 minutes into injury time. No said the referee there is time for one more play. Berwick kicked off and Accies were immediately penalised for killing the ball.
Berwick had one last chance and had to go for goal as there was no time remaining. Their kicker had kicked nothing all day but could he do it when the chips were down? Thankfully for all Accies at New Anniesland the answer was no.
What a game and a superb advert for rugby at this level.
The forwards may be upset they so far they have not had a mention. The certainly played their part. The lineout play with Kenny Beattie, Chris McLellan and Graeme Simpson prominent was excellent. The rucking was good but sometimes exposed to good counter-rucking by powerful Berwick pack and generally they were very lively in the loose.
Next Saturday Stewartry are the visitors to New Anniesland. It will be a big day for the last game of the season at New Anniesland. A pre-match lunch has been arranged and we would like your support. Bring the family.
Tickets are available by contacting Alasdair Graham by email or by phoning 0141 616 4056
 
 

This article was posted on 27-Mar-2011, 14:25 by Hugh Barrow.