Published: Friday, 11th January, 2008 12:30
Biggar master the elements to stay in the title hunt
By Al Stewart
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Eday Manawaiti on the attack for Biggar.
Biggar 29, Cartha Queens Park 13
BIGGAR resumed their Premiership campaign when they entertained Glasgow club Cartha Queens Park on Saturday.
In conditions which were almost identical to those present for the Stewart’s Melville game in December and also when these two sides met at Hartreemill last season, Biggar shrugged off any perceived rustiness with a powerful display.
Although not error-free and not surprisingly so given the conditions, it maintained their top-three spot behind West of Scotland and Selkirk.
Early evening rain and a small rise in temperature meant that come Saturday morning the pitch was eminently playable, this due also to the work of field convenor Jock Muir and to Robert Reid, who had managed to get a roller onto the pitch the previous week.
The only other concern was the available light and the overhead conditions, a bitter wind blowing down the pitch and ensuring all present pitchside were well-wrapped up.
Happily the light was sufficient for play, although the cold did have an effect on the players, some of the Cartha squad in particular struggling after the break, and also on the ability of those scribes present to take anything other than the briefest of notes!
Both sides were able to field full-strength XV’s, bar that in Biggar’s case hooker Fraser Brown was still unavailable through an ankle injury and regular stand-off Gareth Arlidge was an absentee due to a knee injury.
This meant that Michael Rutherford played a full game at No 2 and that Sam Muir was fielded at stand-off, cover provided by Michael McKeand who was joined on the bench by Derek Brown who made his first league appearance.
There was some doubt about captain Eady Manawaiti who had been struggling all week with bad asthma but, typically, the big man made it onto the pitch and with a couple of judicious breaks to draw breath and aid recovery put in another fantastic shift.
Opening against the elements, Biggar were always likely to be on the defensive all the more so because Cartha for their part are at the wrong end of the table and suffering from a collective lack of confidence which has meant that their future in Premier 2 is now in serious doubt.
That did not show much. However, their pack taking the game to Biggar and with the elements helping to make sure that much of the play was concentrated in front of the clubhouse.
It was not surprising then when Cartha were awarded an early penalty, fullback Alan White just pushing his kick wide.
Biggar replied in good measure, the pack led by Manawaiti taking ball upfield via some probing runs and good interplay between those supporting.
Indeed, Biggar should have taken the lead when after ball had been confidently advanced into the Cartha 22 Manawaiti made another break before feeding winger Chris McKeand who with the line at his mercy was just unable to hold onto the ball.
Though Cartha were always likely to be able to clear their lines via the boot they were unable to do so on this occasion and a penalty to Biggar in front of the posts saw Craig Parker kick to open the scoring.
Though not exactly against the run of play this was a great boost for Biggar who could easily have expected to take nothing at all from the half, especially given the conditions.
With Cartha able to take ball deep into the Biggar 22 from the restart, Biggar were again soon on the defensive with another penalty awarded as they sought to halt the Cartha drive seeing the Glasgow side kick for the corner and take the line.
Quality ball from line-out had, up to this point, been at a premium, but on this occasion Cartha took good ball and embarked on a big drive to the Biggar line.
With the pitch providing scant grip, the Biggar pack slid backwards until lock Peter Hollier managed to ground the ball for a good score, although crucially White was unable to add the points from the conversion.
In similar circumstances on the touchline, following good use of the boot by Cartha, Biggar took heart from the efforts of Andrew Cairns and his lifters who stole two priceless throws on the Cartha put in, both allowing Biggar, via Douglas Notman, to clear their lines.
Murray Thomson, with a timely mark, and Manawaiti with a couple of well-supported breaks also helped the Biggar cause, but it was Cartha who managed the next score, this following another penalty, White kicking this time successfully for 8-3.
With the half-hour mark approaching, however, Biggar were able to mount another attack in the Cartha half.
On this occasion, ball was moved well by the forwards in concert with the backs, whose running and handling was much surer than anyone might have expected.
Junior Sifa and Notman provided good targets for the pack to follow and this they did, Ted Tauroa, Kevin Anderson, Rutherford and the ubiquitous Jeff Wright providing constant support.
With Cartha stretched on the left and blind side a deliberate knock-down from an offside position saw Ron Gillies sent to the sin-bin.
Having kicked to the corner it was now Biggar’s turn to catch and drive, Manawaiti emerging from the maul to plunge over for a captains try.
Even more remarkably the two points from the conversion were also claimed, Parker kicking supremely well from the wide angle.
Brown replaced Manawaiti as the big man sought to take breath.
Now 10-8 ahead, Biggar were in an excellent position and would have been quite delighted if the half had ended there and then.
Typically, and quite rightly however, Cartha had other ideas and, following the restart, they were soon back on the attack. A Parker clearance from deep in his 22 gave Biggar some respite but Cartha replied with a kick and chase downfield which ended with another 22 drop out.
A penalty award should have provided Biggar with an opportunity to end the half but Notman missed his touch. Cartha stand-off Black kicked cleverly for the corner and this kick was half-charged down by the Biggar pack.
If anything this gave the advantage to Cartha and it was their left winger Alan Noble (who had looked dangerous throughout) who benefited, he winning the chase to the line for a well-deserved try. Needless to say the angle proved too difficult for the conversion.
Halftime saw both sides sprint for the refuge afforded by the clubhouse and with the game evenly poised at 13-10 to Cartha.
Biggar returned after the break in a change strip, Cartha facing the elements in their original attire and showing signs immediately that this was a bad move, their fullback in particular immediately feeling and suffering from the full force of the wind and rain in his face.
The Cartha pack looked up for the challenge however and they began the half in good style, taking play deep into the Biggar half and then 22 with a concerted effort which had Biggar scrambling for grip. Able at last to push the drive into touch Biggar were able to clear ball downfield.
Biggar then replaced Manawaiti with Ewan McAlpine and Alan
Warnock with Brown. McAlpine’s contribution lasted barely two minutes before he was the next to be penalised and then yellow-carded, the referee having previously warned Biggar for fringing at the ruck/maul area.
An accidental offside disrupted the next Biggar attack, but the score was delayed, this coming after Parker kicked the next penalty award to touch close to the Cartha line.
With a good take from Cairns Biggar applied the same tactic as Cartha had in the first half and drove to the Cartha line.
After drives by Manawaiti and Anderson in the end it was prop Tauroa who crossed for the try, Parker just missing with the conversion.
With this try, Biggar regained the lead once again at 15-13.
In another pick and drive just minutes later Biggar claimed their third score, the pack binding well on centre Notman who had broken through several weak tackles to take play deep into the Cartha 22.
This time it was the somewhat unlikely figure of fullback Murray Thomson who had become involved in the maul, who peeled off to sprint the 15 metres to the try-line for an excellent score.
Parker added the conversion and Biggar opened up a 22-13 gap.
Biggar were now very keen to wrap things up and record the all-important bonus point try and a kick and chase by McKeand almost resulted in this score, but the Cartha defence did just enough to force the winger into touch and for a drop-out.
An interception by lock Gillies then had Biggar in a defensive chase but it was Thomson who halted this attack with a magnificent tackle on halfway.
Tauroa was in on the action once again as he broke at pace, managing to stay on his feet and break tackles on what was a 20 metre burst into the Cartha 22.
Ball was then fed to Parker, who elected to chip and chase. The Cartha defence once again did just enough to clear the danger.
Hooker Rutherford was the next to make a great break, his pass also just not being held by scrum half Davy Reive.
With the Biggar pack getting on top of their visitors there was a torrid time left for Cartha although there was no doubting their resolve and they never gave up though many were now suffering in the cold.
Tauroa claimed the 4th score, his barn-storming run from some 20 metres seeing him knock several desperate tackles aside as he made his way to the line for what was a very popular score.
Parker added the conversion to take the score to 29-13.
With ‘job done’ both Manawaiti and Tauroa retired to the touchline.
Biggar ended on the attack, a collision involving Thomson seeing the fullback sustain a nasty knock to the head.
Attention was sought from the touchline and with the Biggar man in some distress the game was ended.
Happily the fullback regained his feet and was ‘repaired’ in the clubhouse.
In the conditions, all players and officials involved deserved credit.
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