Victories for Lenzie and Allan Glen's
JOY for local sides as weather finally improves...
Lenzie.......... 25
Aberdeenshire... 21
THIS was an excellent advertisement for National League 3 rugby with both teams playing some excellent rugby.
Although Lenzie had played only two games in the year due to the poor weather, they looked sharp and eager from the kick off as they put the visitors under pressure.
Just when it looked like Aberdeenshire had weathered the early storm, McAulay charged down an attempted clearance kick and debutant wing Smith was first to react, winning the race to touch down for the first try.
This stunned Aberdeenshire into action. After good work from their pack the ball was moved out to the backs, but Smith made a try saving tackle.
With Lenzie's line out functioning well and the back row working hard, they worked their way upfield. A drive by McNeish, Matier, and Williams, set up good ball, Brodie saw the space and his crossfield kick was gathered at pace by Nisbett for Lenzie's second try. Brodie added the conversion.
Lenzie were in the ascendancy, and after more good lead up play by Jones and Queenan, Aberdeenshire were adjudged offside and Brodie kicked the penalty.
With half time approaching, Lenzie launched another raid, and when Aberdeenshire conceded a line out near their line, the home team used the shortened line out to their advantage as McManus crashed over. The conversion gave Lenzie a 22–0 lead.
It was probably Lenzie's best 40 minutes of the season to date. Aberdeenshire were only stronger in the set scrum but struggled to compete in most phases of the game.
As a result, the visitors changed tactics at half time and started to use the power of their much bigger pack.
With 20 minutes remaining Aberdeenshire had reduced Lenzie's lead to eight points after scoring two converted tries.
Cunningham crossed after good lead up work from the pack, and the second came when No.8 Cook took advantage of an advancing scrum five metres from Lenzie's line. Both tries were converted by Cole.
Lenzie showed great character at this point and took the initiative again. A good break by Paterson, supported by McLean and Derrick, took play into the Aberdeenshire danger zone. The visitors were penalised at the breakdown and Brodie kicked the penalty.
Lenzie didn't let up and, following a good kick by Hamilton, Aberdeenshire ran the ball out of defence. A massive Scouller tackle halted their advance and again the visitors were penalised at the breakdown. Instead of opting for the simple kick at goal Lenzie took a quick tap, but a slip prevented the ball reaching the space on the left wing and Aberdeenshire cleared the danger.
This seemed to galvanise the visitors, and they launched an assault on the Lenzie line. Some heroic defending kept the visitors at bay, but they were rewarded with a try by Gilmartin in injury time.
Aberdeenshire had time for one more attack, but Lenzie held firm to record a well merited win that knocked Aberdeenshire from top spot.
This was a great team performance, and if Lenzie can play with the same commitment and skill in their remaining games they may still be able to move out of their lowly league position.
Ross High ......... 20
Allan Glen's...... 26
TRAILING 17-6 at the interval and with their promotion prospects in jeopardy, Glen's staged a brave second half fightback to claim a narrow victory.
However, they did not do enough to claim that illusive bonus point.
The first half saw the big Ross High forwards putting their weight advantage to good use.
Their continuous drive and maul approach led to fine tries from prop forwards Robertson and Gillespie respectively. Both were converted by stand off Rennie.
Glen's only reply was from two well taken penalties by Sinclair.
The visitors came to life in the second half, with Sinclair eluding a stubborn defence to touch down in the centre and full back McKeown showing a clean pair of heels to the opposition to score between the posts. Sinclair converted both tries.
In the closing stages, Ross High again showed they were no pushover as they came close to scoring, but they could not find a way over.
A further two penalties from Sinclair secured victory for the visitors, but it could easily have been the other way around.
Glen's pacey young back three of Fraser Caddens, Jamie McKay and Russell McKeown were all impressive and gave Glen's a speed advantage which wasn't used to full extent, but all showed an excellent defensive flair.
Allan Glen's 2nd XV.... 100
Garnock 2A............. 12
THE home side ran amok and provided excellent entertainment for their supporters against a makeshift Garnock line-up.
The visitors had no answer to Glen's centre Jono Moran, who ran in several tries.
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Weather for Kirkintilloch
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 5 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
