Burgh show fire in final friendly
Published 26 Aug 2010 09:00
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ON THE RUN: Johnny Drake homes in on his second try
Helensburgh 28 Strathendrick 5
THE Grizzlies and the Bears joined forces on Saturday to welcome a squad from Strathendrick in what was their final friendly before the league campaign commences.
Strathendrick boasted star quality among their ranks with ex-Scotland international Rory Kerr playing at 10, pitting his skills against Chris Black, the Helensburgh captain.
In ideal playing conditions, the Greens started the match aiming to move the ball fast and wide to their pocket rockets Drake and Curtis. The opening 20 minutes saw those intentions carried out well, but penalties conceded halted any gathering momentum.
Strathendrick were struggling to get out of their own half, with big hits coming from Gibson, Sterry and Phil Rogers, who has become too big and hairy to be classed as a back and now plays at No.8.
The break through came just after 20 minutes with quick ball out to Cairns, who trudged through the Strathendrick defence and popped to Drake who scored under the posts before Black converted.
Burgh now had the bit between their teeth, with Holmes exploiting the gaps created by proactive runners. The pack was always in tight support, creating quick ball for scrum-half Harris. Burgh’s second try came after 30 minutes with quick ball to Phil Rogers, who bulldozed though tackles then flicked the ball for McNee to score, Black again adding the extras.
Kerr then suffered the indignity of a yellow card as Burgh’s pacy play caught the Fintry side’s defence persistently offside. Try number three was the best off the day.
A well drilled move straight from the training ground was executed well when Brown and Chivers gained the hard yards up the blindside, and quick ball was fed to Black who found Drake in canyons of space to sprint clear and score under the posts and Black converted. Coach Ty Sterry made a host of changes with Storm, G Smith, T Smith, Melbourne, French and Simmons all coming on. The opening exchanges of the second half were scrappy, with Burgh struggling to kill off the bigger and more streetwise Strathendrick pack.
The opposition tested Burgh’s defence, keeping it tight and eventually bundled the ball over the line after 60 minutes to take the score to 21-5.
The home crowd, however, enjoyed a Burgh resurgence - especially Wight’s spectacular ‘plump salmon impression’ to keep the ball in play; it failed but his effort couldn’t be questioned.
Burgh - with several other rotations and substitutions - started to click again with Melbourne, Corbett and G Smith putting in hard shifts to suppress Strathendrick’s tiring pack.
The Greens, clearly the fitter side with 10 minutes to go, started getting behind the defence, and nice hands from French and Holmes put Cairns away to score under the post for the final try, which Black converted for a score of 28-5.
Helensburgh had given a good-sized crowd a fine display of fast, open, attacking rugby that requires the high fitness levels that this young Burgh side has in abundance.
This Saturday, Helensburgh Grizzlies travel to Preston Lodge FPs for their first National League Division Three match, kick-off at 3pm. A good start is essential for the Burgh and a large travelling support would be most welcome. The Bears are scheduled to play in an Oban Lorne tournament.
This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 26 Aug 10
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