Accies play an expansive game!
This was a great game to watch if you enjoy expansive, 15 man rugby. From the kick off Accies showed they wanted to play 15 man rugby and were prepared to keep ball in hand and work for each other. They dominated the first 7 minutes but the first time that Helensburgh got into Accies half, just, they were awarded a penalty and they converted it to make the score 0-3 much against the run of play.
Very quickly Accies levelled the scoring with their own penalty 3-3
Accies very quickly got back into their flowing rugby and from a ruck, on the far side, the ball was passed to the Accies charismatic stand-off Stewart Gray whose vision produced a point perfect kick to the welcoming hands of Ross Cowan to scamper over for the first try of the game. Conversion missed but Accies had demonstrated clearly their intent. 8-3
The game restarted and Accies were putting real pressure on Helensburgh and they had pinned them into their own half.
From a set piece Accies outstanding scrum half, Chris Jubb, released the backs and a beautiful flowing movement resulted in a superb try for our captain Craig Wright out wide on the right. Conversion missed but Accies ahead 13-3
Accies immediately put Helensburgh under pressure back in their own half. This is a short pitch and Helensburgh are obviously well used to its dimensions so kept kicking their possession out of their pressure zone. However Accies countered this with some great handling rugby and were soon back on the attack. Another beautiful piece of work from Stewart Gray put the strong running centre Graham Bryden in for a well-deserved try. This time converted by Stewart Gray 20-3
Helensburgh kick off and Accies made a rare mistake. This was the first time in the first half of the game that Helensburgh had been in Accies 22 and it gave them their first opportunity. They turned the scrum in their favour and the scrum half created problems for Accies defence and offloaded to their outstanding No 8 who romped over for a try close to the post. Converted by their very proficient goal kicker 20 – 10
This ended the first half and Accies supporters were feeling that Accies were on top but it was still too close to call.
Accies were quickly 23 -10 ahead after some great work by both backs and forwards resulted in a simple penalty for Stewart Gray
It has to be said at this point that Accies were playing some superb handling rugby and putting their opponents under real pressure and only good defence was keeping them out.
However some superb work by both forwards and backs, which is becoming an exciting aspect of this young side, produced a try for Stewart Gray, and naturally he converted to make it 30 – 10
Accies were dominating this game and were only being restricted by the size of the pitch and Helensburgh’s ability to kick their limited possession back into Accies half. However Accies back three were in tune and used most of those kicks to counter attack. Ross Cowan, Frazer Wilson and Craig Wright worked hard throughout this game to counter attack this defensive kicking from Helensburgh’s.
Once more some superb inter play between the mobile Accies forwards and the energetic backs created another try for our mercurial full back Ross Cowan. This was wide out on the left and a good conversion attempt was missed 35 – 10
Accies were now completely in control and pressurising their opponents. From a lineout infringement on the far side of the field our replacement scrum half, who can play at 10, 15 and now 9 took a quick tap from the penalty and beating two defenders then release his supporting players and some superb offloading and support resulted in a try for centre Brad Bell which was converted to make it 42 – 10
The game was coming to an end but Helensburgh were looking for some consolation and a good forwards try was scored in the dying seconds to make the final score 42 -15
This was one of the most impressive rugby performances that this reporter has had the pleasure to witness. Accies were prepared to play with ball in hand at every opportunity and kick when it was the best option.
Man of The Match: Well this was a really tough decision. Stewart Gray had an outstanding game today and showed what a superb 10 he has become and Fergus Cowan had a superb game at No8 but for his commitment and scrummaging throughout the game the award goes to Max Antliff, great effort for 80 minutes.