Helensburgh Advertiser | Sport

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 2nd November, 2006 11:43

So close

Whitecraigs .. 14 Helensburgh .. 13

BATTLING Helensburgh came agonisingly close to a memorable away win — but a determined Whitecraigs side held out for the narrowest of victories.

Coach Charlie Dunlop was confident in midweek that his charges would end their two season drought of away wins in this mid-league encounter.

Helensburgh started the contest with Welsh at full-back, Cameron at stand-off and substitute Caldwell on the wing.

This reorganisation did not appear to upset the balance and the Greens were quickly into their game, with Sloan putting in a crunching tackle, while Melbourne was first at the break down to turn over ball.

Helensburgh continued to show great appetite for the game and drove the home side down into their 22.

A strong run by Caldwell saw him forced into touch, but the opposition full-back cleared this pressure with accurate line kicking to take play back into the Burgh half.

With 10 minutes played Black entered the fray and Caldwell retired to the bench.

Whitecraigs upped the pace and won line out ball.

With a well executed rolling maul from their big pack they managed to trundle over the line and open the scoring.

This was converted to send Whitecraigs 7-0 up.

Things got worse for Helensburgh when captain Neil Sloan went down with a damaged ankle and was replaced by Inglis at flanker.

The game was well balanced, with play moving from end-to-end in the difficult conditions.

Helensburgh, however, had the balance of possession, with Gibson and Inglis supplying good line out ball to a sniping Walker, who was always keen to make ground, backed up by Musset and Calderwood.

From one of these forays the ball found its way out through Black to Welsh, who made for the try-line, but with no support available he was bundled into touch five metres out.

The Burgh were now dominating both territory and possession and were awarded a series of penalties in the opposition 22 that they chose to run.

However, a number of errors in the difficult conditions and a commited defence saw the first half draw to a close with the home side’s try-line intact.

Whitecraigs started the second half with more fire than they showed in the first period, but Burgh quickly absorbed these attacks and were awarded two penalties five minutes apart.

Both were converted by Black as the home side pulled the score back to 7-6.

The Helensburgh squad were quick to build on this success with a period of constructive 15-man rugby.

The forwards and backs combined to batter the home line, with Drake, Macinroy and Calderwood having chances and Cairns also coming close.

The referee awarded three penalties to Helensburgh — two for killing the ball on the ground and one for punching.

The result for all this effort was neither a try nor even a yellow card — a spilled pass in the tackle saw Whitecraigs gain the opportunity to clear their lines.

Helensburgh maintained their focus and as Whitecraigs broke out of defence a neat chip kick was plucked out of the air by Welsh, who beat the defence to run in and touch down below the posts.

The kick was converted with 12 minutes on the clock as Helensburgh sailed into a 7-13 lead.

How ironic that after such a period of concerted teamwork, it was an opportunistic solo effort that created the just rewards.

Macinroy left the field with a dead leg to be replaced by Campion at hooker.

The game was not over though, and Whitecraigs now brought their forwards into play in the gloomy conditions, as they began to dominate up front.

Quick clean ball from the set piece saw their full-back into the line at speed and he was tight and tidy in his clinical execution to touch down below the posts.

The kick went between the uprights to give Whitecraigs a narrow 14-13 lead.

The last five minutes of the game saw Whitecraigs playing down the clock by kicking for touch at every opportunity, while the Helensburgh 15 to a man continued to drive forward in an effort to find this elusive away win.

But unfortunately, it wasn’t to be, as the Burgh’s poor away record continues.

Helensburgh: Cameron, Welsh, Rogers, Cairns, Meadwell, Black, Walker, Melbourne, Macinroy, Drake, Rettie, Calderwood, N Sloan, Gibson, Musset. Subs: Campion, Calderwood, Inglis.

Helensburgh face Trinity Academicals at Ardencaple this Saturday, November 4, with the game set to kick-off at 2.30pm.

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