Helensburgh Advertiser | Sport

Wednesday, 19th November, 2008

Published: Thursday, 10th January, 2008 12:30

Lots 'More joy

Strathmore 8 Helensburgh 21

BURGH did the double over Strathmore as they start the new year on a high note.

The Forfar side had been out to exact revenge for a single point away day defeat but home advantage meant nothing as Helensburgh impressed at Inchmacoble Park.

A well organised and brawny Strathmore pack kept early ball tight and powered forward when they could, eventually being awarded a dubious penalty for the Helensburgh backs lying offside at the ruck. The successful kick made it 3-0 eight minutes in.

Helensburgh responded well from the restart with a neat sidestep from Black to be taken on by Gordon Brown to Stevie Walker and finally Blair Sommerville was bundled into touch five metres out. Steve Ashworth won opposition line out ball but the referee awarded Helensburgh a penalty with the home backs lying offside. This was converted by Black on 10 minutes to level the score.

Slack play from the restart allowed Strathmore to turn over ball and drive into the Burgh 22 but Helensburgh won the opposition line out ball and Walker sniped past a couple of defenders with the referee awarding another penalty to Helensburgh on the halfway line. Black converted this long range kick on 15 minutes to give Burgh the lead for the first time in the game.

Helensburgh continued to play the more intelligent 15 man rugby while Strathmore were relying on the not inconsiderable power of their big pack providing them with superior possession plus well executed pick and drive moves.

The Burgh eight were just holding their own in the tight and clean ball to Black saw him place a high kick into space.

The Strathmore full back fielded clean ball but failed to release in the tackle so Black’s hat trick of penalties on 20 minutes edged Burgh

further ahead.

Strathmore continued to look dangerous and were winning good possession in the line-out but their back line lacked a cutting edge.

By contrast, Helensburgh were not only defending impeccably but Alec Cantello and Owen MacInroy harried the opposition attack at every opportunity.

Burgh had pushed up into the opposition half when Duncan Watt collected from the base of the ruck and fed Black who sidestepped the defence before popping the ball inside for Alistair Cairns on the burst to touch down under the posts. Black’s conversion slotted between the uprights to open up a 13 point gap with just a half hour played.

Neil Sloan came on to replace the injured Blair Sommerville but it was the damage done by the referee which could have proved more costly. Minutes before half time, the erratic referee showed the yellow card to Watt for apparent infringements on the ground.

The pitch was beginning to cut up but conditions were still clear overhead as Strathmore started the second half against the depleted Burgh squad.

A change in tactics saw the home side punting a number of high balls into the Helensburgh 22 but these were dealt with by an able Ian Ayton at full back but the burly home eight were now intent on breaching the Burgh try line.

Attack after attack was launched against the lighter 14 man defence and with eight minutes of the half played, Strathmore finally found a way through. Their conversion drifted wide but Strathmore now lay just eight points behind.

Strathmore sensed the possibility of turning the game as their backs ran hard into the Burgh half, but their centre spilled ball in the tackle allowing Black to pick up and beat his opposite man.

Again he found Cairns in support who made 20metres, drew the defence and released hooker Shaun McNee to run clear and touch down. The conversion was missed but Burgh were once more in a commanding position.

Not disheartened, Strathmore now played some imaginative rugby, varying their tactics in an effort to claw back the deficit.

But a stalwart Helensburgh squad continued to display clever options in attack combined with an unstinting rush defence to maintain control of the game till the final whistle.

HELENSBURGH: Ayton, Rogers, Cairns, Tyson, Meadwell, Black, Walker, Gard, McNee, Brown, Ashmore, McInroy, Cantello, Watt, Sommerville. Subs: Feltham, N Sloan, M Sloan.

This result will help the team climb out of the relegation zone but another important fixture is the game against Glenrothes at Ardencaple on Saturday — kick off 2pm.

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