Villagers still search for first victory despite improved performance

Oct 9 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

UDDINGSTON Rugby Club’s search for a first win in the Scottish Hydro Electric West League Division One continues after an arresting 28-12 win by Strathclyde Police at Bothwell Castle Policies.

The Villagers put in their best performance of the season, but were ultimately undone by mistakes.

Uddingston started the game well and went close to scoring in 15 minutes when Donald Haldane was held up inches from the line.

The police made Uddingston pay for that three minutes later, when centre Phil Dolan threw a cute dummy before darting through the gap to score at the posts. Despite the poor conditions Alan Watson was successful and Strathclyde Police led 7-0.

A poor restart kick was easily gathered by the police and kicked long into the Villagers’ 22. As the Uddingston defence scrambled back, the ball bounced between the winger and full-back, allowing Danny Bruce to kick ahead and chase the ball over the line.

Another excellent conversion extended the police’s lead to 14-0.

Early in the second half Strathclyde Police grabbed their third try. Good defence by Uddingston stopped the initial drive, but ball was quickly recycled and moved left, where a quick pass out of the tackle created space for Graeme Mayo to drive over and score at the posts, making Watson’s conversion a formality.

The visitors secured their four-try bonus point on 54 minutes. A clean lineout take 10 metres from the line was popped down to prop Ian Waddell, and he jinked his way through before crashing over, with Watson’s conversion giving Strathclyde Police a 28-0 lead.

Uddingston threw everything they had at the police in the last 20 minutes, and were rewarded when ball was moved quickly from the base of a scrum and moved right for Jamie McPherson to cut between two centres to score.

Although Stevie Bremner missed the conversion attempt, Uddingston were back in the game.

received a pass from a scrum

Uddingston attacked their visitors with gusto, forcing several penalties, and made the breakthrough with 10 minutes left.

A poor clearance kick was collected inside the Uddingston half by Willie Irvine, he drove at the police’s back line and, as he was tackled on the 22, popped a neat pass to Donald Haldane, who powered through to score at the posts.

This time Bremner’s conversion was on target, bringing the score to 28-12.

Uddingston threw everything at Strathclyde Police in the closing 10 minutes, but couldn’t make any further impact on the score.

Uddingston travel to Stranraer to play Wigtownshire at the London Road Playing Fields. Kick-off for the match is at 3pm.