Published: Thursday, 24th April, 2008 10:00
A close shave but staying up
By Calum McNicol
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RELIEF: Burgh avoided relegation with stand-off.
Helensburgh 10 - Lasswade 3
HELENSBURGH ensured their survival in the National Leagues after a stirring show at Ardencaple.
Needing a point to stay up, they managed two and proved they are not only good enough to continue at this level but next season already holds the promise any relegation battle should be avoided with some ease.
It may take another season after that for the kind of momentum that builds towards a title charge, but the signs are that the future is bright...the future is green.
Burgh took the glory on what was the biggest day in the club’s recent history because of their commitment.
This, added to class and courage, put the visitors from the Lothians — who had put more than 40 points past the Greens earlier in the season — were under the cosh for long spells.
Coach Liam McIntyre admitted he was sick with nerves before the match but his charges showed no jitters early on, just a clear-eyed focus. Had Burgh lost by more than seven points, they were relegated and Madras would have stayed up. Just to spice things up, however, a draw was enough for the Greens, as that meant a two-point haul.
Fittingly Burgh were too hot for Madras, playing the coaches brand of running rugby which would be wasted in the wilderness of the District Leagues.
What a match this was, packed full of incident.
Burgh were soon on the front foot, Blair Somerville and Sean McNee to the fore in the forward exchanges, Chris Black, Ally Cairns and Mark Tyson always looking to exploit any gaps in the Lasswade midfield.
It was real ding-dong stuff, the visitors intent on spreading the ball quickly rather than use their obvious size advantage in the pack to grind Burgh down. This led to play sashaying across the pitch, with neither side creating any openings.
Despite talking a painful knock to his head early on courtesy of a clash with an opposing prop’s knee, scrum-half Stevie Walker proved his hardiness and turned in an astonishing performance.
After 20 minutes, Lasswade were offside at the breakdown but Chris Black’s penalty sailed wide of the posts. The Burgh stand-off was at the heart of the best try-scoring chance of the first half soon after, scything through a tackle and streaking 30 metres into the Lasswade 22. But though his long pass found Josh Rettie, the youngster was scragged short of the line.
With no score at the break, the second half had barely started when a dangerous spear-tackle on Davie Riding resulted in a melee.
This seemed to spark the Greens into overdrive. Owen McInroy joined forces with his prop-mate Murray Gard to foray menacingly into their 22, but the pass that would have seen Rettie stroll in never materialised.
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