Burgh up to fourth despite Lenzie loss

The game kicked off and immediately from the return kick David Sterry ran the ball from his five metre line up to half way. Lenzie managed to hold Helensburgh and frustration led to a penalty to the visitors who kicked to Burgh’s 22.

A scrum from the line out saw Lenzie’s number eight pick up and offload for the away side to charge over the line for a try. It was converted for 0–7 with only 12 minutes gone.

Lenzie would stretch their lead after some poor play by Helensburgh in their 22 led to Sterry’s kick being charged down, letting the visitors pick up the ball and score a try. Captain Rogers’ complaints of offside were dismissed and with the conversion going through, it was now 0–14 after 21 minutes.

The Grizzlies came back strong and were dominating play, putting pressure on the Lenzie try line. Flanker Rogers charged at the defence but was deemed to be held up on the line.

A missed drop goal by Sterry put Burgh back to Lenzie’s 22 but a penalty given at the maul saw Kinsman take the quick tap and rumble forward into Lenzies’s defence.

Great forward play saw scrum half Drake make a break from the ruck to feed the ball back to Kinsman who went over for the try on 34 minutes.

With the try converted and a penalty kick scored soon after, Helensburgh went in at half-time having reduced the deficit to 10-14.

Lenzie kicked off the second half and straight away Drake replied with one of his trademark runs that the crowd love to see, running right up to Lenzie’s 22.

After a steal from the resulting Lenzie lineout, the ball was dropped but pressure kept them hemmed in and after another lineout on the 22, Drake managed to squirm his way through to score under the posts in the 47th minute. After a successful conversion the home side were now ahead 17–14.

More pressure on Lenzie saw the Grizzlies awarded another penalty, again slotted by Sterry after 55 minutes stretching the lead to 20-14 With Lenzie’s fullback yellow carded for persistent infringements, Burgh should have had the chance to improve their lead.

However the visitors pulled three points back after a penalty on Helensburgh’s 10 metre line was well taken by their standoff.

It was now the away side who started putting on the pressure and after four missed tackles by the Grizzlies, they worked the ball to their winger who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed but the try put Lenzie 20–22 in front after 65 minutes.

Opportunities to score by the Grizzlies were squandered and when Lenzie battled their way back into Burgh’s half in injury time, they managed another score in the corner to finish off the game.

The conversion was missed again but the try would prove enough as the final whistle went with Lenzie claiming the win.

GSS man of the match went to David Sterry for his blistering runs, always putting pressure on the opposition.

A special award was given afterwards to club centre Ali Cairns who was playing his last home game with Helensburgh before going out to Singapore.

Ali came up through the ranks from the mini section to be a first 15 player for the last 14 years, a commitment and achievement that will always be respected and admired.

Next week Helensburgh take on Carrick. Kick off at Ardencaple is at 3pm.

Team: Raeside, Lamb, Flanagan, Inglis, Greggain, Rogers P, Kinsman, Gibson, Drake, Stevenson, Cairns, Rogers A, Bowman, Alton, Sterry. Subs. Malia, Dominick, Harris, Malatesta.

The team was led out by Ali Rogers, taking over from injured captain Mark Sloan. There was a terrific reception from the home support for centre Ali Cairns who was playing his last home game for the Grizzlies after a 14 year career with the first team.

The game kicked off and immediately from the return kick David Sterry ran the ball from his five metre line up to half way. Lenzie managed to hold Helensburgh and frustration led to a penalty to the visitors who kicked to Burgh’s 22.

A scrum from the line out saw Lenzie’s number eight pick up and offload for the away side to charge over the line for a try. It was converted for 0–7 with only 12 minutes gone.

Lenzie would stretch their lead after some poor play by Helensburgh in their 22 led to Sterry’s kick being charged down, letting the visitors pick up the ball and score a try. Captain Rogers’ complaints of offside were dismissed and with the conversion going through, it was now 0–14 after 21 minutes.

The Grizzlies came back strong and were dominating play, putting pressure on the Lenzie try line. Flanker Rogers charged at the defence but was deemed to be held up on the line.

A missed drop goal by Sterry put Burgh back to Lenzie’s 22 but a penalty given at the maul saw Kinsman take the quick tap and rumble forward into Lenzies’s defence.

Great forward play saw scrum half Drake make a break from the ruck to feed the ball back to Kinsman who went over for the try on 34 minutes.

With the try converted and a penalty kick scored soon after, Helensburgh went in at half-time having reduced the deficit to 10-14.

Lenzie kicked off the second half and straight away Drake replied with one of his trademark runs that the crowd love to see, running right up to Lenzie’s 22.

After a steal from the resulting Lenzie lineout, the ball was dropped but pressure kept them hemmed in and after another lineout on the 22, Drake managed to squirm his way through to score under the posts in the 47th minute. After a successful conversion the home side were now ahead 17–14.

More pressure on Lenzie saw the Grizzlies awarded another penalty, again slotted by Sterry after 55 minutes stretching the lead to 20-14 With Lenzie’s fullback yellow carded for persistent infringements, Burgh should have had the chance to improve their lead.

However the visitors pulled three points back after a penalty on Helensburgh’s 10 metre line was well taken by their standoff.

It was now the away side who started putting on the pressure and after four missed tackles by the Grizzlies, they worked the ball to their winger who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed but the try put Lenzie 20–22 in front after 65 minutes.

Opportunities to score by the Grizzlies were squandered and when Lenzie battled their way back into Burgh’s half in injury time, they managed another score in the corner to finish off the game.

The conversion was missed again but the try would prove enough as the final whistle went with Lenzie claiming the win.

GSS man of the match went to David Sterry for his blistering runs, always putting pressure on the opposition.

A special award was given afterwards to club centre Ali Cairns who was playing his last home game with Helensburgh before going out to Singapore.

Ali came up through the ranks from the mini section to be a first 15 player for the last 14 years, a commitment and achievement that will always be respected and admired.

Next week Helensburgh take on Carrick. Kick off at Ardencaple is at 3pm.

Team: Raeside, Lamb, Flanagan, Inglis, Greggain, Rogers P, Kinsman, Gibson, Drake, Stevenson, Cairns, Rogers A, Bowman, Alton, Sterry. Subs. Malia, Dominick, Harris, Malatesta.