Foots pay penalty for sly tactics

Published 25 Mar 2010 09:00 0 Comments

Share this

Helensburgh 16 Hillfoots 8

HELENSBURGH'S incredible unbeaten run continued on Saturday against Hillfoots as Liam McIntyre's men moved up to fourth place in the table.

Burgh deservedly secured their fifth win on the trot and maintained their winning run in 2010 in the Scottish Hydro National Division Three.

Stevie Walker at scrum-half for the Burgh was showing great appetite to take the ball on early but was steamrollered in defence as the opposition number eight picked up from the base of the tight. Walker played on after medical attention, but suffered a facial injury in the tackle.

The robust Hillfoots pack dominated, rolling off the back of the line-out and driving well into Burgh territory before delivering ball wide. Strong cover tackling from Blair Sommerville and Jason Feltham minimised these initial attacks.

The Burgh were operating off the back foot as the Hillfoots eight were now shunting them in the tight and dominating both possession and territory. Hillfoots exerted further pressure and their pack took the ball into the Burgh 22. This was spread out wide from the breakdown for their wingman to run in at the corner for the opening try with 20 minutes played.

Helensburgh were not lacking endeavour and a break by Shaun MacNee into the opposition 22 won a penalty that was slotted over by David Riding to narrow the score with 25 minutes played.

Helensburgh now demonstrated some running rugby with slick interpassing between forwards and backs with both Drake brothers to the fore and well supported by Dominic Fitzgerald.

An incursion into the visitors' 22 resulted in a penalty as Hillfoots drifted offside at the breakdown. This was slotted over on the half-hour by Riding.

This score opened up the game, with both teams now showing a desire to run the ball at their opposite numbers. It was the visitors who benefited from these tactics and won a penalty on the Burgh 22. This was slotted over to take the lead by two points with five minutes of the half to play.

Hillfoots wing man then burst up the touchline, beating the home defence and broke inside. He, however, had not accounted for a fast closing Johnnie Drake coming in from the opposite wing who scythed him down metres from the try-line.

A number of forward drives from close quarters appeared to deliver the opposition their score, but a series of superb defensive moves by the Burgh pack negated these attacks.

In fact, the ball was turned over and the Burgh line was cleared. This allowed Helensburgh to go into the interval very much in contention after a demanding period of play.

Helensburgh started the second half into the breeze and were keeping the ball tight. However, the opposition continued to use their physical advantage and with a series of pick and drives were soon down in to the Burgh 22.

The referee was becoming aware of a certain level of skulduggery at the breakdown from Hillfoots forwards and a series of penalties relieved these pressures.

A break by Dominic Fitzgerald to Ali Rogers took play up to the edge of the opposition 22, where an infringement at the breakdown provided Helensburgh with a kickable penalty opportunity. This was converted by Riding to take the score to 9-8.

The opposition again lifted their game and some clever lines of running in their backs ensured that the Helensburgh drift defence was alert with Johnnie Gibson and Owen McInroy on the case.

A set scum on the halfway line allowed the opposition number eight to pick up and again drive downfield supported by his back row men. A big hit from diminutive Johnnie Drake bumped the ball forward in the tackle.

Helensburgh were now quicker to the breakdown and their more streetwise opposition were slowing ball down by the adoption of dubious tactics on the ground.

The penalty count against them was rising. The referee finally lost patience and showed the yellow card to Hillfoots' number seven for persistent infringement.

Helensburgh were quick to profit from this opportunity and slick service from Andy Inglis to Walker and inside to Riding saw him stretch over the line for an important try.

With 20 minutes left on the clock the Riding conversion completed the scoring for the day, with all Helensburgh's 16 points credited to their captain.

Hillfoots finished the game with 13 men as their number five was shown the red card for foul play with five minutes left.

This had been a resilient performance by the young Helensburgh squad against a more experienced and rugged opposition and will leave them comfortably placed as the league campaign draws to a close.

Helensburgh: Boyd, McNee, A Drake, McInroy, Brown, Feltham, J Gibson, Sommerville, Walker, Riding, Drake, Cairns, Fitzgerald, Bowman, A Rogers. Subs: Inglis, R Gibson, N Sloan.

This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 25 Mar 10

Follow @helensburghadv

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our Sport archives.