Biggar eye up a top-three finish following a good win over Kirkcaldy

Apr 8 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

Biggar 24 - 13 Kirkcaldy

BIGGAR have set their sights on a top-three Premier 2 finish after grabbing a solid win over Kirkcaldy in their penultimate home game of the season on Saturday.

That represents a stark turnaround from this time last season, when relegation was still a possibility.

Scrum-half and captain Sam Muir was playing his last game for Biggar before he and wife Jody return to New Zealand and on this occasion the rest of the side held back before entering the field, allowing him to take the applause, which was repeated when he was substituted in 75 minutes.

Quintan Sanft marked his return to Biggar by slotting a penalty for Kirkcaldy after just six minutes, which came as some relief to the hosts as Jamie Brown had seemingly scored a good try but the referee signalled a forward pass.

A series of good line drives led to Kirkcaldy being penalised for handling, however, and Chris McKeand levelled.

Kirkcaldy were given another penalty shortly afterwards and Sanft restored their lead.

McKeand and Simeon James set up Scott Watson but he opted to pass instead of going it alone and the chance was lost.

However, a great lineout steal by Fraley Hopa resulted in Andrew Goodall, Jason Kelly, Scott Cameron and Kevin Anderson all making good yards before Muir sscored a try. McKeand converted for 10-6.

From kick-off, Biggar moved downfield where another good lineout take, this time by John Hyslop on his debut, saw ball moved to the centre, where Scott Cameron went on the charge.

With ruck ball won, the obvious play would have been on the overlap but Muir chose to go right, where a mistimed pass and neat flip-on by James saw the ball go to Scott Watson, who scored in the corner. Despite the angle, McKeand added the points for 17-6.

Into the second half and Kirkcaldy were reduced to 14 when, after being warned twice for back-chat, Jamie Brown was sin-binned.

Biggar quickly capitalised when the ball found its way to Andrew Goodall, who crashed over from a few metres out, with McKeand’s conversion taking the score to 24-6.

The hosts tried to strengthen their lead but tiredness set in towards the end and their efforts were in vain.

Kirkcaldy kept going, however, and after a series of penalties had come to nothing – although Biggar’s Jason Kelly was sin-binned – a quick-tap penalty allowed Craig Wilson to score a consolation try, with Sanft converting.