Indiscipline to blame as Biggar lose at Hawick

Published 23 Oct 2009 13:49 0 Comments

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Biggar 19 v 31 Hawick

BIGGAR suffered their second consecutive defeat on Saturday against a competent Hawick XV who in the end, aside from playing better, were a little more streetwise than their hosts.

Making another round of, in total eight changes, Biggar welcomed Andrew Peacock into the front row in what was his first start of the season.

Injury to Alan Warnock led to a late but ultimately successful fitness test for Jason Kelly who made a return after a three-week absence at No8, while David Robertson retained his place at lock, this leading to Stuart Coubrough dropping down to the 2nds whom he captained.

Another to make a return was Fraley Hopa who started on the bench, this also after an enforced absence due to injury.

In the backs Murray Thomson made his first league appearance of the season at stand-off, while the unavailable Alistair Browning was replaced by Andrew Goodall who made the side courtesy of a number of impressive performances in the 2nd XV.

Scott Watson also returned to the side to replace the injured Douglas Notman, with Michael McKeand moving infield from wing to centre.

In what were perfect conditions, and in front of a big and vocal crowd, Hawick had the much better start as they attacked and kept Biggar pinned down into their own 22.

Neil Renwick (son of ex-Scotland legend Jim) opened the scoring with a penalty after a Simeon James shoulder charge in midfield.

Hawick piled on the pressure and probably should have added to their tally but for a reluctance to put the ball wide, one clear overlap ignored as the Biggar defence was stretched wide.

Instead they had to wait until the end of the first quarter when, having again put their hosts under pressure, the Biggar defensive line crept offside, Renwick again adding the points for 6-0.

Throughout the half, the game was punctuated by the whistle, the referee blowing too quickly for both sides when the advantage was in the offing.

Biggar suffered considerably, several decisions going against them when had play been allowed to continue, they might well have been able to clear their lines effectively.

As it was they managed to maintain their hold on the game via some solid tackling and the powerful runs out of defence from Kelly, Hugh Green, Chris McKeand and Goodall, with the packs efforts in the tight an awful lot more solid then in recent weeks.

The first try of the day fell to Hawick and came as the Hawick three-quarters ran at pace, Renwick finishing off the move by breeching the Biggar line for a try under the posts which he then converted for 13-0.

Biggar made one telling break as Hopa made a good turnover in midfield, his off-load to Grant Owens unfortunately going astray, but with lots of space ahead.

Renwick missed one penalty but took his side clear at 16-0 from another penalty, this coming on the stroke of half time.

Despite the lead, there was plenty of optimism within the Biggar ranks that they would be able to get back into the game in the second half.

This was indeed the case as Biggar applied some real pressure on Hawick, keeping them pinned in their 22.

A free kick decision to Biggar following a series of awards to Hawick was met with ironic cheers from the Biggar support, this taken quickly with Scott Cameron on a charge.

His break took him clean through the first line of defence and while play was taken deep into the Hawick 22 a penalty was Biggar's only reward.

Once more on the attack, a turnover in midfield had Biggar retreating at pace following a clearance from the Hawick stand-off.

Lewis McLachlan tidied up well to retain possession and shortly afterwards Biggar were able to resume the attack, a penalty award for off-side giving Chris McKeand his first kicking opportunity. Unfortunately, this was pushed right.

The restart to this penalty saw ball taken well by Kevin Anderson who made good ground. The ball was then moved left where Goodall was just pushed into touch.

A similar fate saw Scott Watson also pushed into touch, this as he prepared to dive for the line after some good work by the three-quarters, a neat flick from James getting the ball to Watson.

A squint lineout from Hawick, one of several in the game, ceded Biggar possession and then a penalty award gave scrum half and captain David Reive a chance to tap and feed Cameron whose burst took him over the line. McKeand's conversion put Biggar on the scoreboard.

A Kelly take on the restart and a James counter took play back into the Hawick half. A second penalty attempt to McKeand saw the fullback just miss, but a second Biggar score was merely delayed. Hopa took a good lineout ball, and Thomson made an initial break from stand-off.

Green carried the ball to within 5 metres of the line but some firm tackling by the Hawick defence seemed to have stopped the move. Ball was, however, transferred to prop Peacock who barged over from close range - 2 props and 2 tries! McKeand added the points from the conversion and at 16-14 it was anyone's game.

The next score was always going to be crucial as the balance of play had turned and Biggar were clearly in the ascendancy.

A dropped pass with, again, lots of space denied Biggar another tilt at the Hawick 22, but worse was to follow for the home side as they were then stretched wide with Michael Graham freed to outstrip the Biggar defence for a score in the corner.

Renwick was off target with the difficult conversion but made amends minutes later as he countered from a chip ahead by Reive. Unfortunately he spoiled an excellent day by feigning a trip by McKeand who was metres away from him and who was then given then a yellow card and sent to the bin. Harsh indeed.

The Hawick man then kicked the resultant penalty to put his side clear at 24-14. Biggar now became increasingly frustrated as they sought to chase the game.

Hopa was then also binned for a shoulder charge, this having a fairly major effect on the Biggar scrum which lost ball against the head and allowed Hawick to again counter.

A blindside break and chip by Dean McCracken took play to the Biggar 22 where a perfect bounce (for Hawick) saw the ball evade the Biggar defence and fall into the arms of the kicker who ran in for a try which Renwick again converted for 31-14.

Able to maintain their territorial advantage, a forward pass in the corner led to a 'try' by No 8 Matt Landels being chalked off.

Not to be outdone Biggar came back into things again, ball worked well to the left via Thomson, Kelly and then James who fed Goodall, the youngster managing to cross in the corner but just too far out for the conversion.

This was to be the final score, Biggar again unable to claim a losing bonus point.

Biggar now drop down to fifth spot, their nearest rivals, bar their next opponents Kirkcaldy, all recording wins.

The weekend's trip to Beverdige Park takes on another dimension again in the light of these results, particularly as the Fife side recorded a convincing SHE Cup win over Biggar last season.

Biggar will of course cross swords with ex-player Quintan Sanft who is player-coach to the Fife side. Biggar will need no reminding of the need to retain discipline as Sanft was a top points scorer in Biggar colours and is still kicking the points for Kirkcaldy.

Biggar - Chris McKeand; Andrew Goodall, Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Scott Watson; Murray Thomson, David Reive (captain); Scott Cameron, Kevin Anderson, Andrew Peacock, David Robertson, Andrew Cairns, Hugh Green, Grant Owens, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Colin Arthur, Ian Renwick, Farely Hopa, Lewis McLachlan.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 23 Oct 09

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