Close encounter ensures Biggar stay top of league

Dec 13 2007

BIGGAR maintained their top Premier 2 place with a narrow 9-5 win over the capital side Stewarts Melville in very difficult conditions at Hartreemill.

Three second-half Craig Parker penalties, when kicking was extremely tricky, gave Biggar the points after Stewarts Melville grabbed a try following a blocked grubber kick by Biggar in the first half.

This game saw Hartremill’s TV debut but unfortunately, although Scotsport Rugby Sunday featured the match, there were just limited highlights shown, and these gave little idea of the effort expended.

A feature of Biggar’s success this season has been consistency of selection, this due in no small part to a lack of injury to squad members, although with Stewart Wright still awaiting a scan on his injured shoulder, Alistair Browning again out, Gareth Arlidge carrying a thigh strain and Fraser Brown sustaining ankle damage this week, disruption through injury could yet be a factor.

Biggar made but one major change this week with Wikus van Staden forced to watch following his third yellow card last week.

Alan Warnock took his place on the bench while there was a very welcome first appearance this season of prop Finlay Smith, the Broughton man entering the fray in the second half.

Eady Manawaiti again proved his worth and the support offered by both back row men Jeff Wright and Ewan McAlpine and by scrum half Sam Muir was also priceless while the ball won on the touchline was also taken confidently by Andrew Cairns and Stuart Coubrough. Only in the tight scrummage did Biggar lack control although this was an area which was always likely to be difficult, both sides in turn looking vulnerable in the slippy underfoot conditions.

Referee Gary Gordon then sent Stew-Mel flanker Blair Tweedie to the bin for 10 minutes. Now with a one-man advantage Biggar might have believed that they would have the upper hand, but in fact it was Stew-Mel who took the lead. An attempted grubber from Muir was blocked by the rush defence and with Biggar flat in attack, it was winger Tupu Saena who showed a clean pair of heels to hack forward and then outstrip Muir and Notman in a dive for a fine opportunist score although the conversion was missed.

The Stewarts Melville hooker Shaun McMurchy then criticised referee Gordon whose riposte was to award a penalty to Biggar which Parker successfully converted for 5-3.

Alan Warnock was the next Biggar player to take the field, he replacing Ewan McAlpine. The action continued as McKeand took a quick tap penalty to take play back to Stew-Mel, his good work continued by Ted Tauroa, this leading to another penalty which Parker converted.

The final score saw another penalty awarded against Stew-Mel hooker McMurchy and Parker did the needful.