Burgh just miss bonus point in Carrick loss

Helensburgh kicked off the match and the return kick by Carrick took them up to the 10 metre line.

From the line out the ball was passed out to winger Malia who broke through the defence popping the ball to fullback Sterry. Sterry then chipped the defence and won the sprint to the line to touch down for the first try with only three minutes being played, it was successfully converted to give Burgh the perfect start.

On six minutes Carrick were awarded a penalty on Burgh’s 22 which also was converted bringing the score to 7–3.

Carrick had now woken up and were showing why they were challening at the top of the league, putting pressure on the Helensburgh line again, this time their chip and chase was saved from the try by fullback Sterry.

However an earlier penalty allowed them to kick to the corner and score from the lineout by driving over the line. Converted the score was 7–10 after 10 minutes.

On 13 minutes Carrick’s winger flew down the line to be put into touch on Burgh’s five metre line. There, they stole the ball from the lineout and good hands through their backs saw another converted try taking it to 7–17.

The Grizzlies got back into Carrick’s half and were driving at the line looking to score. A superb cross kick to the corner by stand-off Harris saw the ball knocked on by Burgh and the resulting scrum again saw Carrick’s winger fly up the pitch from their five metre line to score a superb try for the visitors.

The conversion was missed and it was now 7–22 after 20 minutes.

The next 18 minutes saw both teams jostling for territory and Helensburgh were beginning to get the advantage, however again Carrick worked their way up to Helensburgh’s line and scored just before half time. Well converted, this took the score to 7–29 and left Helensburgh a massive task if they now wished to get anything out of the game.

Early in the second half Burgh captain Rogers had to come off due to a facial injury and The Grizzlies only sub Wragg came on at prop.

After 20 minutes of the second period Carrick managed to break Burgh’s defence after a forward pass was missed, Carrick scored from a break from the resulting scrum. Unconverted the score was now 7–34.

Captain Rogers was now back on and tried to lead by example to get Burgh back into the game. Big tackles from number eight Inglis and flankers Gibson and Kinsman saw the home side take the initiative.

Carrick were giving away penalty after penalty and with 10 minutes remaining, Harris managed to eventually get over Carrick’s line, unconverted it was 12–34 with time running out.

From the kick off again Burgh were relentless and this time after hard work by the forwards, prop Flanagan drove over the line and with Sterry’s conversion and the score at 19–34. Helensburgh were looking for the bonus point from another try.

However Carrick managed to hold the hosts out for the rest of the game. The game ended with Helensburgh getting nothing out of the game in terms of points but gaining a sense of pride with the way they had come back as a team.

GSS man of the Match was captain Ally Rogers who led from the front the whole game. Rogers is sponsored by Patricia Rey.

Helensburgh’s next game is away to Allan Glens on March 7.

Team: Raeside, Feltham, Flanagan, Voigt, Greggain, Kinsman, Gibson, Inglis, Curtis, Harris, Rogers, Malia, Bowman, Alton, Sterry Sub. Wragg.

The away side occupy second position in the league and had already beaten the Grizzlies convincingly at their home ground earlier in the season, so Helensburgh knew they were in for a tough task to get something out of the game, especially after call offs had left the team with only one substitute on the bench.

Helensburgh kicked off the match and the return kick by Carrick took them up to the 10 metre line.

From the line out the ball was passed out to winger Malia who broke through the defence popping the ball to fullback Sterry. Sterry then chipped the defence and won the sprint to the line to touch down for the first try with only three minutes being played, it was successfully converted to give Burgh the perfect start.

On six minutes Carrick were awarded a penalty on Burgh’s 22 which also was converted bringing the score to 7–3.

Carrick had now woken up and were showing why they were challening at the top of the league, putting pressure on the Helensburgh line again, this time their chip and chase was saved from the try by fullback Sterry.

However an earlier penalty allowed them to kick to the corner and score from the lineout by driving over the line. Converted the score was 7–10 after 10 minutes.

On 13 minutes Carrick’s winger flew down the line to be put into touch on Burgh’s five metre line. There, they stole the ball from the lineout and good hands through their backs saw another converted try taking it to 7–17.

The Grizzlies got back into Carrick’s half and were driving at the line looking to score. A superb cross kick to the corner by stand-off Harris saw the ball knocked on by Burgh and the resulting scrum again saw Carrick’s winger fly up the pitch from their five metre line to score a superb try for the visitors.

The conversion was missed and it was now 7–22 after 20 minutes.

The next 18 minutes saw both teams jostling for territory and Helensburgh were beginning to get the advantage, however again Carrick worked their way up to Helensburgh’s line and scored just before half time. Well converted, this took the score to 7–29 and left Helensburgh a massive task if they now wished to get anything out of the game.

Early in the second half Burgh captain Rogers had to come off due to a facial injury and The Grizzlies only sub Wragg came on at prop.

After 20 minutes of the second period Carrick managed to break Burgh’s defence after a forward pass was missed, Carrick scored from a break from the resulting scrum. Unconverted the score was now 7–34.

Captain Rogers was now back on and tried to lead by example to get Burgh back into the game. Big tackles from number eight Inglis and flankers Gibson and Kinsman saw the home side take the initiative.

Carrick were giving away penalty after penalty and with 10 minutes remaining, Harris managed to eventually get over Carrick’s line, unconverted it was 12–34 with time running out.

From the kick off again Burgh were relentless and this time after hard work by the forwards, prop Flanagan drove over the line and with Sterry’s conversion and the score at 19–34. Helensburgh were looking for the bonus point from another try.

However Carrick managed to hold the hosts out for the rest of the game. The game ended with Helensburgh getting nothing out of the game in terms of points but gaining a sense of pride with the way they had come back as a team.

GSS man of the Match was captain Ally Rogers who led from the front the whole game. Rogers is sponsored by Patricia Rey.

Helensburgh’s next game is away to Allan Glens on March 7.

Team: Raeside, Feltham, Flanagan, Voigt, Greggain, Kinsman, Gibson, Inglis, Curtis, Harris, Rogers, Malia, Bowman, Alton, Sterry Sub. Wragg.