Clydebank RFC 22

Helensburgh 2ndXV 38

HELENSBURGH’s second side prevailed over their Clydebank counterparts to claim the local bragging rights at Whitecrook on Saturday.

Through the efforts of scrum-half Ruri Kinsella and the typically fiery approach of both flanker Adam Malia and centre Matthew Holland, Helensburgh dominated the breakdown.

They needed all the experience of skipper and stand-off David Higgins and the organisation of centre Michael Linzee-Gordon to take control of this match.

The visitors cranked up the heat and they were ahead after only two minutes. Ruri Andrew Donnelly initially caused the problems when he chased after his own chip down the left and from the 5-metre scrum that followed, Kinsella sent a floated pass along the line to Linzee-Gordon, who splintered the Clydebank defence by cheekily passing the ball between his legs and releasing winger Sean Alton for a routine run in.

Helensburgh doubled their lead four minutes later after a galloping sprint from the home 10-metre line by Ollie McKee.

But the Bankies then ran back a wayward Helensburgh line-out for their They kept the ball alive long enough for their winger to bump off a couple of tackles and score. They shaved the deficit to four points with a 29th-minute penalty.

Clydebank’s scrum then bizarrely back-peddled at a rate of knots and Kinsella was quickly on the Bankie No.8, his wild pass picked up by Linzee-Gordon, who dummy-passed to himself and sprinted to the line for a score.

Helensburgh’s most effective work was done by their back row. Clydebank were being bumped around by the likes of Ollie McKee, who carried the ball as well as anyone and the excellence of Liam Butler and Adam Malia.

It was no surprise when their foraging skills allowed Helensburgh’s scrum-half to dance over from a close-range line-out to make it 19-10 after 33 minutes.

A distinct edginess crept into Helensburgh’s game and Clydebank hit back with a second try of their own from their scrum-half, and when the Bankies No.8 scored in the first minute of the second half after another neat break the scores were tied at 22-22.

Although Matthew Holland slotted over a drop goal after 46 minutes to re-establish the lead, the Helensburgh forwards led the way in their own brutally determined fashion and scored their fifth try, probably their best of the season.

Full-back Owens fielded a high kick and linked with Donnelly, the winger slaloming his way past desperate defenders before Matthew Holland came in to support.Helensburgh took possession dangerously close to the touchline but Adam Malia and Ollie McKee came in to recycle, Ian Drummond, Mark Ashdown and Simon Raeside created more mayhem and when Kinsella shifted play to David Higgins, the skipper had enough about him to put Malia home in the corner. Kinsella added his second try in stoppage time.

from where it all started.

It took Helensburgh 33-22 ahead with only minutes remaining. But there was still just enough time for man of the match Kinsella to barrel over for his well deserved second try, in added time.

Full-time 38-22 Helensburgh.

Price Roofing Helensburgh 2XV Squad: M.Ashdown, M.Stewart, I.Drummond, O.McKee, D.Martin, L.Butler, K.Laing, A.Malia, R.Kinsella, D.Higgins(c), A.Donnelly, M.Holland, M.Linzee-Gordon, S.Alton, K.Owens, Z.Swift, S.Raeside, D.McCardle, N.LaBlancherie, E.Ramsey.