Biggar 18

GHA 26

Al Stewart at Hartree Mill

AFTER the big disappointment that was last week's match against Aberdeenshire, Biggar hosted GHA in a rearranged BT Cup match at Hartree Mill.

A complete comedy of errors presaged the first score of the game as Biggar were forced into their own 22.

A wild pass from Robbie Lavery soared over the head of stand off Aird Jardine who then scampered back into his own in-goal area to retrieve and clear.

The slippy ground did him no favours however and his clearance dropped out of his hands and into the path of the advancing GHA stand off who touched down for the easiest of scores.

The conversion gave GHA a 7-0 lead within the first minute.

Those who had been at Aberdeen the previous week could have been forgiven for thinking 'same old' but this was a Biggar XV with a very different mindset and approach and they soon came right back into the match.

Putting GHA under pressure centre Graham Jamieson made a great interception and off-load which paved the way for a try for supporting winger Alisdair Sinclair who scorched in under the posts.

Richard Peacock's conversion tied the scores at 7-7.

A few minutes later and Biggar took the lead and then extended this to 13-7 with a couple of Peacock penalties.

Jamieson almost collected another interception but the ball just failed to stick.

A great lineout take by Alan Warnock saw Biggar drive as well as they have all season to create a platform to attack the GHA line. With play seemingly halted it was flanker Douglas Notman who picked to lunge through a couple of tackles for the line.

Richard Peacock's conversion failed to find it's mark but this gave Biggar an 18-7 half time lead.

The second half could not have begun in any poorer fashion when a slight lack of focus provides the opposition with possession or an opportunity to exert pressure.

A scrambled take from the kick off gave GHA position and they were quick to exploit the chance with some very good back play, stand off Andrew Goudie ghosting through the Biggar line with a fine dummy and acceleration to nip over for a try.

Biggar's defence was then shredded by the pace of centre James Edgar who made a great break through and then beyond the Biggar line. His break allowed replacement winger to score in the corner and with scrum half Peter Jericevich taking over the kicking duties the ball crept in to give GHA the lead at 19-18.

With just one point separating the sides it was clear the next score would most likely be the winner and so it proved, Rangi Jericevich rounding off a try after another scything run by Edgar.

The try scorer's brother Peter on target with the conversion which put GHA 26-18 ahead.

Try though Biggar did they were unable to add to their tally and GHA were able to grind out the remaining minutes to secure their win.

Biggar. R. Peacock, A. Sinclair, G. Jamieson, R. Lavery, C. McDonald, A. Jardine, D. McArthur, C. Bachurzewski, E. Stewart, Donald Voas, D. O’Connell, A. Peacock, D. Notman, A. Warnock, K. Williams. Reps: J. Barr, S. Campbell, P. Davidson, T. Steele