Hamilton maintain second place in Premier 3 with fine win at Perthshire

Oct 21 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON kept their title charge on track with an easy Premier 3 win at Perthshire.

The Bulls attacked from the start and after Gavin Bloice kicked to touch for Perthshire, Richie Maxton rose to take the lineout and Hamilton drove forward, but the hosts went over the top and conceded a penalty.

A quick tap by Stevie Turnbull led to Hamilton surging for the line, only for Jack Steele to seize possession and launch it downfield.

David Sutherland collected at the back and Hamilton kicked clear before the Bulls won another penalty, which Craig Inglis put in to touch.

Maxton took again and released David McGrath to drive towards the line and, when ball was spun wide, Ron Strydom nipped in at the corner to open the scoring.

Hamilton were caught offside at the restart, allowing Steele to reduce the deficit with a penalty.

However, Owen McLeish quickly regained the Bulls’ lead by kicking a penalty of his own for 8-3.

Again Hamilton found themselves penalised shortly after the restart and Steele made it 8-6.

Hamilton responded well and stolen possession allowed McLeish to kick to touch. When Maxton secured the lineout and the forwards put on a good drive, a penalty award enabled McLeish to stretch the lead to 11-6.

The Bulls stepped up the pace and a good break involving Strydom and Craig Inglis moved them further downfield. When prop Neil Drummond was yellow-carded, McLeish slotted the penalty.

Hamilton looked to be defending well, but when Sutherland stopped Craig Assenti out wide, a penalty was awarded, with Steele reducing the gap to 14-9.

With time running out in the first half, Hamilton bagged their second try when Robert Cowie took good lineout ball and the forwards drove for the line Grant McCowan went over, with McLeish converting for 21-9.

Early in the second half, Pattinson secured good lineout ball and Ross Angus drove forward, catching the Hamilton players offside, with Steele kicking a penalty for 21-12.

Just as it looked like Perthshire were coming back into the game, however, Ross Inglis collected a deep kick and burst down the pitch before finding Mason, who fed Craig Inglis to score in the corner. McLeish then converted from a tight angle.

Perthshire made every effort to claw their way back into the game and frustration boiled over.

Garry Coull and Bloice broke well and when Dom O’Connor was stopped just short, the game exploded, with punches exchanged. When the dust settled Pattinson, was red-carded.

From the penalty, Craig Inglis found touch and Maxton again took lineout possession and the Bulls drove forward.

When a Hamilton scrum was disrupted, McLeish stepped up to slot the penalty for 31-12.

Hamilton stepped up a gear and when Fraser Watt was stopped illegally, a penalty was awarded, with the Bulls opting for scrum.

The forwards did their bit by driving for the line, only to see things collapsed and yet another penalty awarded.

Hamilton again opted for the scrum and after several further collapses the referee awarded a penalty try, with McLeish adding the extra points for a 38-12 lead.

Shortly afterwards Maxton took a lineout and when McGrath broke free he was able to find Strydom, who crossed untouched for a solid 43-12 advantage.

Hamilton nearly stretched their lead further but when Tuoro stumbled at the vital moment, Steele ripped possession from him and broke well before Dan Cashman was stopped just short of the visitors’ line.

Then, from a penalty award, Erlend Oag took a quick tap and released Ryan Hood for the score, with Steele converting for 43-19.

Just as Perthshire looked to be raising their game, a turnover shortly afterwards saw Inglis break free and feed Mason, who crashed over for the try, with McLeish tagging the points for 50-19 with virtually the last kick of the ball.