Rugby: Hamilton celebrate victory over Perthshire

Feb 3 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON maintained their second-placed position in Premier 3 with a convincing win over Perthshire on Saturday.

Owen McLeish got Hamilton’s first home match since November 20 underway and within a couple of minutes had slotted a penalty between the uprights for a 3-0 lead.

Good cover defence prevented Hamilton’s Chris McLaughlin from adding to the score.

Hamilton kept up the pressure and when David McGrath forced a penalty McLeish put it into the corner, Richie Maxton rose to take the ball and the forwards drove for the line.

Stopped just short, Stevie Turnbull gathered and spun the ball wide but Steven Morley was stopped from going over when referee Mhairi Hay pulled play back for crossing and Perthshire were awarded a scrum ball.

Hamilton’s pack drove and McGrath took the strike against the head, the pack continued to drive forward and John Selfridge picked up at the back, slicing through the defence for the opening try, with McLeish converting for 10-0.

Perthshire came back into the game and, attacking through the middle, Callum MacKinnon broke for the line and, despite being tackled by McLeish, got the ball out to Jamie Coffey who crashed over in the corner for 10-7 following Jack Steel’s conversion.

The visitors attacked from the restart and silenced the home crowd when an impressive move involving Graeme Clow and Craig Assenti allowed the latter to slice through the defence to add a quick second try, which Steele converted for a 14-10 lead.

Hamilton gradually got themselves back into the game and from a set-piece the scrum provided a stable platform for Turnbull to break.

Supported by Selfridge good ground was made before Tamati Rhind gathered and crashed through the Perthshire backs.

Hamilton forwards were up quickly in support with Chris Hunter and Fraser Watts securing possession, but Perthshire illegally stopped the attack and McLeish put the penalty into the corner.

Maxton rose to collect David McGrath’s throw and Hamilton drove forward, and with Rhind at the back of the maul the pack forced their way over the line, where the big Kiwi dropped to the ground for the Bulls’ second try. McLeish converted a difficult kick from the touchline for a 17-14 lead.

Hamilton attacked a couple of times, with Perthshire stopping them inches from the line and turning over possession before clearing upfield.

However, Ash Mason collected the kick and Hamilton went straight back at them, forcing another infringement, which resulted in McLeish adding the points for a 20-14 half-time lead.

Supporters enjoyed the benefit of floodlights at Laigh Bent for the first time as the second half got underway and Hamilton immediately attacked their visitors.

Perthshire conceded another penalty which McLeish sent into the corner, Robert Cowie secured possession and the backs drove forward, crashing over the line.

As the bodies cleared it was Chris Hunter who rose with the ball, having successfully touched it down for 25-14.

Perthshire showed they were not yet down as they came forward from the restart to win a penalty which Jack Steele slotted for 25-17.

Hamilton attacked again and Perthshire conceded another penalty, which McLeish again put into the corner.

Cowie rose to collect McGrath’s throw, the pack drove forward and Turnbull went over for the fourth try, which McLeish converted for a 32-17 lead.

With time running out a Perthshire clearance was collected by Lyle Calder and Hamilton surged forward again.

From a scrum just short of the line Selfridge popped the ball to Turnbull, who quickly changed direction of the attack, wrong-footed the Perthshire backs, and fed Stannage who went in untouched at the corner.

McLeish converted from out on the line for the final 39-17 score to the Bulls.