Helensburgh Advertiser | Sport | GREENS SO CLOSE TO WIN

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 26th April, 2007 16:38

GREENS SO CLOSE TO WIN

By S.W.Lynes

THIS fixture was always going to be challenging for the Burgh because their hosts, if they lost, faced relegation but Helensburgh were assured a mid-table finish to the season irrespective of the outcome.

Veteran lock Colin Rettie showed early with a robust tackle on the ball receiver from the Burgh kick off but the powerful home pack retained possession.

Helensburgh dominated territorially in the early period with Alistair Cairns and David Riding looking for opportunities to break the tight defence.

A penalty to Helensburgh on 10 minutes was just pulled wide by Andy Gowrie.

Glenrothes absorbed the initial onslaught and were now beginning to dominate the forward battle in loose play with a well worked maul steamrollering the lighter Burgh pack downfield.

Neil Sloan momentarily relieved pressure with a well-weighted chip kick but this was covered by the home full back to clear his lines.

Glenrothes were now in control and turnover ball from the line out gave them the opportunity to work the ball wide and run in for try number one on 15 minutes.

The home side were now confidently keeping ball tight and pressing in the Burgh half when Neil Campion stole a legitimate loose ball from the base of the ruck but was immediately penalised for offside.

A training ground penalty move was quickly taken by Glenrothes and driven forward by the voluminous home pack to produce try number two on 25 minutes but the conversion was again wide.

Glenrothes were now peppering the Helensburgh defence with some high kicks but these were confidently dealt with by James Welsh.

Strong running out of defence by David Riding and Neil Campion saw Welsh now in support up to pressure the opposition try line.

This attack was again absorbed by the home defence and a chip and chase saw play quickly downfield and it was then Helensburgh's turn to absorb an attack with Gowrie clearing to touch.

Glenrothes again won line out ball and good interplay between backs and forwards allowed them to work the touchline to beat the Burgh defence and run in try number three on the half hour.

Helensburgh were working hard to play attacking rugby despite meagre possession with Elliot Meadwell keen to run out of defence.

The visitors were awarded a rare penalty on the half way line that was placed neatly into the corner by Andy Gowrie. Johnnie Gibson won important line out ball and a well timed pass from Riding saw Alistair Cairns on the burst take two tacklers across the try line to touch down under the posts.

The try was converted by Gowrie to take the score on 35 minutes to Glenrothes 15 Helensburgh 7.

This score suddenly put the visitors back in the game but a lack of concentration and a couple of obvious infringements apparently missed by the referee allowed the Glenrothes pack to bundle over in the corner .

This was converted to take the half time score to Glenrothes 22 Helensburgh 7.

The home side restarted the game and their kick went deep into the Helensburgh half and was cleanly taken as Andy Gowrie beat two men to release James Welsh to chip over the defence.

This provided David Riding with the opportunity to beat the defence to the touch down with only three minutes of the second period played — Gowrie's conversion was slotted between the posts.

Glenrothes continued to exert their physical dominance on the game but Richard Bain and Owen McInroy were working tirelessly as Helensburgh now had the slope against them.

The home side were again pressing in the Burgh 22 when Neil Sloan picked up from the base of a ruck and started a mesmerising run through a packed defence.

He was backed up by Neil Campion but the other Neil left all in his wake to touch down under the posts.

Andy Gowrie converted to take the score to Glenrothes 22 Helensburgh 21 with 30 minutes to play.

Helensburgh made every effort to lift their game and substitutes Jason Feltham and Michael Linzee-Gordon were brought on for Campion and Cairns but Glenrothes were not keen to give up their slender lead.

The clock ran down with Helensburgh coming tantalisingly close on a number of occasions with Stevie Walker bundled into touch just a few metres out.

This had been a great fight back by the Burgh but tired legs were time and again unable to beat the desperate cover defence. Hart Insurance Man of the Match was Elliot Meadwell.

Team — Welsh, Cameron, Cairns, Riding, Meadwell, Gowrie, Walker, McInroy, Campion, Drake, Rettie, Bain, Gibson, Sloan, McLean. Subs — Feltham and Linzee-Gordon.

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