Dumfries Saints 5

Biggar 17

Al Stewart at Park Farm

THIS match won’t be remembered as the prettiest spectacle but it was a typically hard-fought and robust contest which had the crowd enthralled until the final whistle.

The match began at a helter-skelter pace and one which hardly let up all half.

Errors there were a-plenty, as both sides were slow to get to grips with the ball.

Both sides tackled fiercely, with defences generally on top and giving little away.

A passage of pressure in the Dumfries 22 was the precursor to Biggar’s opening try - Lavery moving right off ruck ball and finding Rowan Stewart with a deft pop pass.

The winger cruised through the defence for the touchdown. Lavery added the conversion for 7-0.

Further pressure saw Biggar attack deep into the Dumfries 22 but a succession of errors in transfer combined with some resolute defence meant that Biggar were unable to add to their tally.

Ironically it was from another period of pressure, when Biggar disrupted the Dumfries scrum, that led to the home side's score.

In trouble as the scrum was shunted backwards, and following a tackle by Biggar skipper Euan Sanderson play seemed to have halted with ‘ball held up’.

Referee Morrison allowed play to continue however and Dumfries scrum-half Jack Johnstone put in a relieving kick up the middle of the pitch.

Biggar fullback Iain Renwick was just short in his chase to catch the ball, the bounce taking the ball over his head and into the path of the Dumfries breakout. It was then a race to the line, the whole length of the pitch and while Biggar chased well, none more so than Robbie Lavery, the home side got their try.

The conversion was missed.

The last part of the first half was a scrappy affair as all seemed to lose shape, ball lost in contact and passes not as accurate.

Penalties were exchanged although none were within kicking range until Lavery was just wide with an attempt with just a few minutes of the half remaining.

The second half started with a yellow card to Biggar’s lock Franco Carossi and a penalty to Dumfries.

A man down meant Biggar’s scrum was under pressure.

That Dumfries were unable to score in this period was significant as Biggar with the wind behind them had an advantage that they now pressed home.

Lavery made good ground with a variety of kicks to pin Dumfries back.

A chip to the wing from Gregor Stewart saw a chase to the line which had there been a TMO could easily have seen Biggar get a try as James Barr and then Matthew Stewart seemed to have got the crucial touchdown but it was a call that only a TMO could have made and so Biggar had to be content with a 5m scrum. Dumfries engineered another breakout from this position but again a lost ball allowed Biggar to escape and regain territory.

The decisive score came at the beginning of the 4th quarter as ball moved left seeing Barr take Gregor Stewart’s well-timed pass to cross untouched in the corner. Despite the acute angle Lavery added the conversion to make the score 14-5.

A penalty award to Biggar after Dumfries centre Michael Yates was shown yellow for a late hit on Moffat took play into the Dumfries half where another penalty and then back chat advanced play forward for Lavery to kick the last points of the match and give Biggar what was a commanding lead.

The error count will disappoint the coaches from both teams and certainly neither side will escape as lightly in other matches but Biggar will take heart from the win with the team effort a very pleasing aspect of the game.

Stewarts Melville are next up, this a home game and which sees the city side making a first visit to Hartree Mill for some four seasons.

Biggar: I Renwick, R. Bradford, M. Stewart, G. Stewart, R. Stewart, C. Lavery, D. Reive, A. Nimmo, E. Stewart, F. Maggiolo, A. Peacock, F. Carossi, C. Milligan, E. Sanderson (c), R. Jackson. Reps: D. Voas, R. Moffat, R. Lavery, J. Barr