Published: Monday, 11th September, 2006 11:11
Home sweet home
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Helensburgh 30 Lismore 7
HELENSBURGH had home advantage for the second Saturday of the season as they welcomed long-time rivals Lismore to Ardencaple.
The home side piled early pressure on their visitors from the capital, who were intent on slowing up the game at the break down.
With five minutes played the Burgh were awarded a penalty that was stroked over by Black.
Helensburgh continued to run at their opposition and after 10 minutes were awarded a second penalty as Lismore fringed offside at the breakdown, with Black again converting.
Lismore responded from the restart and drove up into the Burgh half to be awarded a kickable penalty that their full back pulled wide.
This attack provided the visitors with confidence and they began to stretch the home defence, with Black under constant pressure as he cleared the home try line and scrum half Walker caught in possession as he attempted to run out of defence.
A torrid 15 minute period saw the home side absorbing constant Lismore attacks as they dominated both territory and possession.
Helensburgh were finally awarded a penalty on their try line that Black punted clear.
A searing run by Neil Sloan, backed up by McInroy, then took play down to the Lismore five metre line.
Lismore turned over possession and cleared their lines. Inglis, who had been dominating the line out, again provided the home side with good possession and a neat chip by Black took play into the Lismore red zone.
Continued pressure resulted in Helensburgh being awarded a penalty 15 metres out.
A well drilled training ground move saw Calderwood beat four defenders to touch down out wide, with Black’s kick drifting wide.
Helensburgh restarted the second half and the front row duo of Melbourne and Campion were soon taking the ball forward and a rolling maul saw Helensburgh forwards up into the visitors 22.
Turn over ball by Lismore allowed their backs to run out of defence but any chance of a constructive attack was thwarted as the ball went forward in the tackle.
Then, neat distribution from the breakdown through a well timed pass from M Sloan provided Welsh with space to round the defence and touch down, but Black’s kick drifted wide.
With the game heading into the final quarter Tyson came on at centre, to replace a hard running Rogers.
Lismore continued to pressure the home line and won a dubious penalty but could not find a way through the stout home defence.
Musset took a ball from the back of the lineout and drove upfield despite a number of defenders attempting to halt his progress.
The home 15 continued to push up in attack but a clever chip kick from the Lismore stand off saw them in behind the Helensburgh defence to pick up, change their angle of running and touch down under the posts with 76 minutes played. The conversion went between the up-rights to take the score to Helensburgh 23 Lismore 7.
However the last play of the game saw scrum half Walker break from the base of a scrum in the Helensburgh half to release N Sloan, who sliced through the opposition with a 30 metre surge to touch down for Helensburgh’s important fourth try that was converted by Black.
The Hart Insurance Man of the Match was James Musset.
Helensbrugh: M Sloan, Meadwell, Rogers, Cairns, Welsh, Black, Walker, Melbourne, Campion, Drake, Calderwood, Inglis, N Sloan, McIntoy, Musset. Subs: Gard, Felton, Tyson.
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