Biggar 49, Musselburgh 43
BIGGAR scraped through to defeat visitors Musselburgh in a pulsating contest at Hartree Mill, with the score fluctuating throughout and the result ultimately determined by the side which wanted the win the most.
Biggar opened strongly and after just eight minutes, the hosts opted to go for goal with their second penalty award, with Finlay Crozier kicking the goal for 3-0.
After a series of errors, the M’burgh pack took the ball on and after a series of carries, they scored their first try. Stand off Bailey Buchan added the conversion for 7-3.
Biggar lost centre Lavery to a yellow card for a high tackle. Exploiting the extra man, M’burgh probed left, right then left again before they scored their second try. This was wide out and so there was no conversion but with a quarter of an hour gone, Biggar were 12-3 behind.
Biggar responded positively, the initial position set up after M’burgh conceded a penalty for a high tackle but not one dangerous enough to warrant a yellow. Skipper Luhan Kotze tapped this quickly and while Daniel Conaghan took play forward a knock on in the tackle gave M’burgh another chance to clear play downfield.
In their efforts to clear however, they knocked the ball on and a huge effort from the Biggar pack gave Kotze a chance to snipe on the left flank. Having created space his pass was taken by Crozier who crossed for the try. The conversion was missed.
Another restart error saw M’burgh capitalise and a quick response saw the pack again create space and they crossed for the third try which, when converted, extended their lead to 19-8.
Excellent work from Biggar saw Stewart pick and go from the base, allowing Kotze to feed Lavery on what is his trademark crash ball. A spin and dive and he crossed the line for a try which Crozier converted for 19-15.
M’burgh took full advantage of some poor fringe defence around the scrum base, scrum half Coel Pettet sprinting clear to score their bonus point try with the conversion reasserting the visitors lead to 24-15.
Lavery notched a second try from a very similar move as his first, but this time he crossed virtually untouched. Crozier converted.
Half-time: Biggar 22, Musselburgh 24.
Biggar opened their second half account from a Crozier penalty which took the home side into the lead for only the second time in the match at 25-24.
A careless penalty from Biggar saw the visitors apply pressure again and the M’burgh pack, which used the close quarter pick and go around ruck and maul to great effect, saw them cross the line for a fifth try, with the conversion giving them the lead back at 31-25.
The next phase as Biggar looked to shift ball wide in attack ended as a short pass from Lavery was intercepted. With the Biggar backs flat out in attack, M’burgh’s Sandy Watt ran unopposed to the line for a try which, when converted, gave the visitors a 13 point lead at 38-25.
Kotze dashed over for a try which, with the conversion, took the score to 38-32 in the visitors' favour.
Back almost immediately in attack Jamieson was bundled into touch on the right touchline. A tremendous steel by Dunlop from the M’burgh lineout created another opportunity however and Lavery brought Jamieson back into the attack, the winger stopped just metres short. From the quick ruck ball Kotze dodged over for the try. Crozier converted and with a quarter of the game to go, Biggar led by 39-38.
Having won possession and tried via the pack to cross for a try, Gray took the initiative, and showing great determination, spun and drove over from some 5 metres. Crozier’s conversion made the score 46-38.
M’burgh’s next attack looked to have gained good yardage but a penalty for obstruction gave Crozier the chance to relieve the pressure. A good safe lineout and then another carry from Stewart drew another penalty which Crozier dispatched to stretch the lead to 49-38.
A burst of pace took Musselburgh centre McCowan into space. He linked with support and M’burgh drew closer at 49-43 with their seventh try, but could not score any more.
Biggar: F. Crozier, D. Conaghan, H. Lang, C. Lavery, G. Jamieson , G. McCuaig, L. Kotze (c), L. Calvin, F. Cook, C. Gray, F. G. Barr, J. Tucker, C. Dunlop, S. Neill, L. Stewart. Reps: K. Neil, R. Whitefield, C. Davidson, R. Jackson, F. Barr.
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