Helensburgh Rugby Club draw level with Lenzie

Jan 30 2009 by Laura McLachlan, Lennox Herald (main ed)

HELENSBURGH left it late to draw level with Lenzie on Saturday – despite playing on their own pitch.

For the second time this season these teams could barely be separated, albeit that the Burgh side left things very late.

Lenzie dictated play in the early exchanges and it wasn’t surprising when after just eight minutes they scored a simple try wide out on the left with a clear overlap.

The visitors’ full back converted with an excellent kick from the touchline to give them a 7-0 lead.

Burgh were edging their way back into the game and finally won a penalty which Chris Black converted to reduce the visitors’ lead to just four points.

The Lenzie full back missed a long-range penalty from halfway but was successful with another effort to make it 10-3 as the Greens appeared to be committing some infringements on a regular basis which left most people, including the players, bemused.

Ross Gibson and McCrimmond were both showing up well in defensive chores and following a brave fall by Oz Melbourne, Burgh produced their best move of the match, the ball being moved swiftly through the hands in a scything thrust of some 70 metres.

The move fizzled out in the red zone with yet another questionable penalty being awarded to Lenzie which allowed them to clear their lines and enjoy their half time lead.

Burgh restarted with the wind behind them in determined fashion, with Hammond back on for Watt and Inglis moving to blind side flanker.

As Lenzie stepped up the pressure in an effort to close the game out, Ally Rogers made a try saving tackle deep in the home 22.

As time ran down Johnny Drake and Cairns had storming runs which came to nothing, but just when it looked as if the game was slipping away following a Greens knock on – the scrum produced the goods again.

On the Lenzie’s put-in to a scrummage five metres out, Burgh took their fourth strike against the head and the ball was moved swiftly from Holmes to Phil Rogers and the big centre crashed through for the try. Holmes showed commendable calm to slot the conversion over and level the match at 10-all.

Hart Insurance Man of the match: McCrimmond.

Helensburgh: Black(c) A Rogers, P Rogers, Cairns, Rettie, Holmes, Campbell, Melbourne, McInroy, A Drake, Inglis, Calderwood, McCrimmond, Watt, Gibson. Subs : McIntyre, J Drake, Hammond.