From Stevie Winter

Accies edged out at The Bearyards”

Fixtures against Allan Glens are always tight encounters no matter the league table positions and so it proved again as Allan Glens edged out Accies at the Bearyards to secure their league status and Accies closed out the season in fifth place.

The first half ended with Accies just ahead thanks to two tries from second row Adam Taylor (both converted by Stephen O’Donnell) but Glens had two tries of their own in a tight encounter with play tooing and froing to both ends of the park.

Glens 12 – 14 Accies HT

Accies were some 10 first team regulars out due to a combination of injury and the commitments of the sevens side at the Howe of Fife 7’s.
This led to Accies fielding two flankers on the wings and following an injury to Robert Beattie, young Andrew Brown (last weeks flying supersub wing) stepping in at scrum half. Sadly, due to this lack of specialist wingers a lot of Accies’ good play could not be finished off. There’s no offence meant to Graeme Kerr and Chris Wright as they both did solid jobs but they don’t have the wingers’ gas or nouse of a Mike Hermes, a Dougie Horne or a Craig Wright.

The second half ran along similar lines with Accies comfortably taking the majority of possession but not converting their chances and quite a few passes being dropped on both sides.
Glens, stout and full of heart as always, owe a huge debt to player/coach – Mark Sitch (he of Hawks legend) as he was outstanding in his reading of the game and in particular his cover tackling which stopped many a Stewart Smith break right on the gain line. It’s safe to say that without his ability to snuff out the danger early then Stewart would have made some searing and telling breaks that would have led to tries.
The key moment came with 15 minutes to go as Glens’ centre made a half break and looking to kick ahead, did so but the kick was half charged down and slightly fortuitously fell straight back into his arms and he ran in for the winning, converted try.

Accies huffed and puffed for the remaining 15 minutes but couldn’t find a way through a doughty Glens defence and the game ended just as the rain started.

Overall, Accies were far better than their last trip to the Bearyards but, as noted earlier, couldn’t finish their chances in the second half to close out the game. Glens, playing for their league status gave their all and edged it out.

This article was posted on 7-May-2011, 18:02 by Hugh Barrow.