Whitecraigs 20

Biggar 22

Al Stewart at West Lodge

WHITECRAIGS fullback Adair had a ‘last kick of the game’ penalty to give his side victory against Biggar on Saturday.

Having landed three from three already and with the penalty almost in front of the posts it looked a relatively straightforward kick.

But on this occasion the youngster pulled it wide and so Biggar ‘escaped’ to make it five straight wins to stay top the League table.

That they had to cling on for the points was a new experience this campaign especially given that the previous two games have been won by 10 tries a-piece.

The Glasgow side were reported to have a large pack and indeed this proved to be the case, their efforts in the tight scrum in particular causing all manner of problems for the Biggar eight.

Mobility around the park was not as good however and it was this which Biggar sought to successfully exploit.

Rowan Stewart opened the scoring off an Orr pass after some good build up play by the pack.

The winger's incision saw him cut through the Whitecraigs defence.

The home side ran hard and straight but the Biggar defence, as has been the case this campaign, remained solid with Carlos Carossi, Voas, Ryan Moffat, Ross Jackson and Chris Mulligan among many others all showing up with some big hits.

A quick tap penalty from Davy Reive moved the ball left to Orr whose initial show and go broke the ‘Craigs defence.

His off-load found Lavery who crashed over for Biggar’s second try.

The conversion was swept wide but Biggar led 10-0.

The next score came after Moffat and then Voas had made good ground in the centre to push ‘Craigs back into their 22.

Though seemingly the ‘wrong’ way and in the face of ‘Craigs numerical defensive advantage Reive moved the ball left to Lavery. The centre found Rowan Stewart who needed no second invitation to split the defence.

Once again however, three tries up but only 15-0 as the conversion was missed.

Inevitably the home side then began to get their act together and some powerful driving play by their pack with a gargantuan lock making headway they engineered an attacking position within Biggar’s 22.

Having won a penalty they elected to kick and Adair made it 15-3.

With five minutes to go before half time, ‘Craigs were then reduced to 14 men when centre Wamberg was shown a yellow for a high tackle.

With the advantage of the breeze in the secon dperiod Biggar should have been able to push on but they came up against a much rejuvenated ‘Craigs XV.

There also seemed to be a change in the referee’s interpretation of the scrum and it was soon that Biggar found themsleves penalised on numerous occasions due to this change.

Carossi was identified as being the ‘culprit’ though the Biggar coaching team would take issue on this interpretation.

Whitecraigs' persistence eventually paid off having kicked to the corner, and their replacement lock O’Neill bundled over for a try.

The conversion took the a score to 15-10.

Another Adair penalty put ‘Craigs just two behind at 15-13.

A quick tap penalty from Renwick inside his own 22 took the home side by surprise and Kotze made a further 15 metres before popping the ball inside to his supporting winger. Bradford, who took off for the line to score a really opportunist try.

To add insult to injury for ‘Craigs, Matthew Stewart stepped up, and from the widest angle managed to slot the conversion for a 22-13 lead.

But as time ticked down Craigs went over for a try and the conversion brought the hosts to within two points with five minutes remaining

And so the drama played out until that final penalty miss.

Biggar: I. Renwick, R. Bradford, M. Stewart, R. Lavery, R. Stewart, R. Orr, D. Reive, D. Voas, E. Stewart, F. Carossi, A. Peacock, A. Warnock (Capt), C. Milligan, R. Moffat, R. Jackson. Reps: C. Braid, L. Stewart, L. Kotze, C. McDonald