Biggar crush Kelso with a 5-1 try victory.

Feb 18 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BIGGAR recorded their second win of 2010 with a 5-1 try count against a dispirited Kelso XV.

This was an excellent win for Ants Posa’s men, which boosted them up into fourth place in the Scottish Hydro Premier 2 table.

Biggar started well and quickly exerted their authority, but sound defence and some unforced errors kept them at bay.

The hosts piled on the pressure and this told in 23 minutes when Chris McKeand burst over from 40 metres out.

Five minutes later another thrust upfield saw Iain Renwick link with Douglas Notman and he made good yards but his offload hit the ground.

Just as it looked like the move would end, Murray Thompson scooped the ball up and raced in for a great score, with Chris McKeand converting for 12-0.

Kelso full-back Greg Ponton replied with a penalty, but Biggar turned around at half-time in a comfortable, if not commanding, 12-3 lead.

Biggar started the second half positively and good play by Fraley Hopa and Jason Kelly stretched Kelso, providing space for Sam Muir to scamper over for his first try of the season.

McKeand kicked the conversion from under the posts and Biggar led 19-3.

Michael Rutherford, Charles Cochrane and Thomson then linked well against an already-tiring Kelso, but the move broke up.

Biggar than changed their line-up with Alan Warnock replacing Cochrane in the back row, Michael McKeand coming on for winger Scott Watson, and Kevin Anderson making way for Andrew Peacock at prop.

This altered very little from Kelso’s point of view, however, and Biggar immediately resumed their attacking game.

The next surge saw Kelso make a good mark in the face of a Biggar attack, but in an attempt to move ball quickly the visiting kicker made a loose pass, which Andrew Cairns gratefully accepted before darting across the line. McKeand added the conversion for 26-3 and a bonus point.

Kelly then picked up an ankle knock, but that meant Cochrane was put back on.

Despite being four tries down by this stage, Kelso never gave up and enjoyed what was undoubtedly their best passage of play.

This paid off when their pack took full advantage of a lineout to pick and drive, with Daniel Porteous credited with the try for 26-8.

A bad fall saw Thomson retire, and Watson brought back on, and Biggar continued to press.

Simeon James was next to benefit from this, the centre finishing another great passage of interplay by Cairns and Notman for 31-8.

Biggar will now prepare for a tricky trip to Aberdeen on Saturday.

The Grammar side currently sit in sixth spot, but are always a difficult side to beat at home.

With several youngsters at Hartreemill staking a claim for a starting place, however, coach Posa will have an interesting job selecting his team.