Published: Thursday, 19th October, 2006 11:24
Burgh trounced by unbeaten Dumfries
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Dumfries 65 Helensburgh 13
HELESBURGH were on the road again but were travelling south to meet the league leaders Dumfries, a squad with a perfect record this season and who had not been beaten at home in three and a half seasons.
The Greens squad were down in strength as they kicked off in ideal conditions but the kick went straight out, providing the large home pack with an opportunity to prove their superiority at the set piece.
They won ball and their No 8 picked up and triggered the first of many ominous attacks on the burgh line with play moving relentlessly from one touch line to the other.
A strong try saving tackle from Welsh put paid to this effort. immediately the home side won line out ball and were soon attacking at the opposite corner but a strong tackle from Rogers stopped this intrusion.
With 10 minutes played Dumfries were awarded a penalty that was slotted over. The burgh continued to look positive and a well placed kick by Cameron at full back took play into the opposition 22 and from the ruck Rogers took the ball on the burst.
Helensburgh were awarded a penalty for the tackler lying over and this was converted by black to equal the scores. Dumfries continued to pile on the pressure but the quick witted Welsh intercepted and beat the first two lines of defence before offloading to a supporting McInroy who was forced out three metre from the try line.
Burgh won the line out and with all their backs up in attack a pass was spilled and found the boot of a Dumfries centre. His skills were more akin to Queen of the South and allowed him to hoof the ball downfield and he won the long hack and chase to touch down under the posts. This try was converted.
There then followed a period where Dumfries demonstrated their wide range of skills to run in a further two converted tries.
With five minutes of the half to play the score was Dumfries 24 Helensburgh 3. Helensburgh were continuing to play with spirit and a strong drive into the opposition 22 saw scrum half Walker feed Melbourne who took it on and offloaded to black who slipped over the try line. His conversion however drifted wide.
On the half time whistle Dumfries’ pressure won them a further penalty that took the half time score to Dumfries 27 Helensburgh 8.
The home side restarted the second period and were quickly up into Burgh red zone forcing clearance kicks from both Cameron and Black but this relief was short lived.
A change of tactics saw a rolling maul emerge from a lineout on the 22 and as it rumbled towards the try line the Dumfries No 8 peeled off the maul and over the try line.
Helensburgh again mounted an attack on Dumfries territory but a well executed interception on the half way line saw the ball rapidly through three pairs of Dumfries hands and touched down under the Burgh posts. With 10 minutes of the second period played the score was now Dumfries 39 Helensburgh 8.
Gibson who had been working hard in the line out was now being targetted by the opposition but support from McInroy at the tail was providing possession. Helensburgh again managed to lift their game and direct running by Rogers, Cairns and Musset took play into the Dumfries 22.
A concerted forward drive then saw Welsh driven over to marginally reduce the deficit on the hour.
A dazzling display of fifteen man rugby in the final quarter allowed the Dumfries squad to demonstrate the benefits of recent Southern Hemisphere coaching. Accurate passing out of the tackle clever angles of running and error free handling at speed resulted in 4 further tries being run in with 3 converted. The final score was Dumfries 65 Helensburgh 13.
The Burgh face another strong challange on Saturday, October 21 when the visitors to Ardencaple will be Hawick YM with a 3pm start.
Team: Cameron, Meadwell, Rogers, Cairns, Welsh, Black, Walker, Melbourne, MacNee, Gard, McInroy, Miller, N.Sloan, Gibson, Musset, Subs: Wight, Watt, M.Sloan.
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