“Accies right the wrongs”

Seven days after losing to Allan Glens at the Bearyards on league duty Accies hosted Allan Glens at New Anniesland on Cup duty.

Righting the wrongs of last week were clearly high on the agenda as Accies set about the Glens side in the early salvo’s, dominating territory and possession, and the reward came early as Accies opened the scoring after 10 minutes via a try from the flying wing Mike Hermes.

Accies’ pressure resulted in a penalty, the kick went to touch, 5m out and the lineout worked perfectly and as the ball sped out the backline, flying wing, Mike Hermes burst through the centre, and a couple of tackles, to reach the try line under the posts with Stephen O’Donnell converting. 7 – 0

Then, as always, Mother Nature played her hand and the heavens opened. The ongoing theme of Accies territory and possession superiority remained true but a greasy, slippy ball meant that the numerous attacks foundered on dropped balls, slipped feet and occasionally loose play and the first half never really progressed beyond a dogged struggle of Accie attack and stout, robust Glens defence. Accies declined a couple of presentable penalty kick options to chose to go for the “lineout/potential try” option. Your scribe hoped they wouldn’t regret not keeping the scoreboard ticking over.

Half Time: Accies 7 – Glens 0

The second half continued in the foul weather, but Accies had the wind & rain at their backs and as all players know, it makes a huge difference to the mental attitude when you have the elements in your favour. Accies cranked up the intensity and were all over Glens and two penalties quickly ensued. Unfortunately, Stephen O’Donnell had misplaced his kicking boots and he missed both, relatively, easy chances to stretch Accies lead and with the lead only 7 points the tension just got cranked up a notch.

Accies were to rue those missed chances as, on a rare foray into Accies’, half Glens came away with the full compliment of seven points, the game was level and it was suddenly hanging in the balance. 7 – 7

Accies were not for giving this one up and roared back at Glens and struck within minutes as a kick to touch in the corner set up the potential of a rolling maul try and the boys delivered. Your scribe couldn’t tell which player actually got the touchdown (his sources tell him it was Jack Walker) – but sitting in the stand, a suited and booted Steve Begley claimed it!! 12 – 7

With 15 minutes to go it was suddenly all Accies as Glens, possibly, realised there was no way back, particularly without their talisman player coach Mark Sitch to keep them in the hunt. A burst into the corner by Jack Walker resulted in a lineout for Glens on their own 5m line. A slippy ball, and maybe a loose call saw the ball break to Elliot McLaren and the prop/player coach gratefully caught the ball and fell over the line to calm Accies nerves and set them forward. 17 – 7

The tails were up and Accies quickly followed up with a peach of a try… good lineout ball on the right hand side saw the ball zipped to the backs and Mike Hermes screamed into the line from the right wing, bursting through two tackles to set up Stuart Seaton with the easiest “pop” pass to fall over the line to stretch Accies lead to 22 – 7.

The Stags were now running hard and replacement wing Andrew Brown scorched in for the final try. (someone phone Wally Mitchell and ask him to come down to provide some 1-2-1 coaching with Andrew, he’s raw but he’s got the ingredients…). After a terrific break from Ben Semple set up the ruck 10m out, quick ball to the right and up popped Andrew, from the left wing, to take the pass and score on the right hand side.

Full Time: 27 – 7

Summary: The scoreline doesn’t lie and Accies deserved to win, it took time but Accies eventually romped home with 4 tries in the final quarter and Glens’ coach - Scotland Captain, Al Kellock agreed that Accies backs were better - and the break in the weather in the final quarter meant passes sticking and tries scored. Glens badly missed player coach Mark Sitch of Hawks legend as he really brings them into the game but Accies deserved to go through to the next round of the Shield.
Encouraging performances from many of the players in Accies colours and hopefully a positive learning experience for some of the younger members of the team as to how to win a tight game in tricky conditions.

This article was posted on 29-Oct-2011, 21:02 by Hugh Barrow.