Hamilton beat Dumfries Saints in Premier 3

Feb 24 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON grabbed a much-needed win at Dumfries Saints on Saturday, a result which maintained second place in the Premier 3 table.

However, while the Laigh Bent men secured the four points, they gave their small band of travelling supporters moments of worry throughout the game.

David Sutherland got the game underway and Robert Cowie was first to seize possession, although after some untidy play only quick thinking by Fraser Watt stopped Saints from taking control.

As Hamilton drove forward Cumbernauld referee Alistair Watt penalised Saints for offside but Owen McLeish pulled his kick wide.

Richie Maxton and David McGrath took play to five metres short of the line but conceded a penalty and Sylain Diez took the quick tap and broke upfield, cutting through the Hamilton players.

Ball was moved right to winger Kenny Henderson, who evaded a couple of tackles to take play forward.

The Saints forwards were up quickly to retain possession and quick ball from Diez released Graeme Gemmell, who burst through before passing inside to John Sa to touch down for 5-0.

Cowie was first to Sutherland’s restart and when Hamilton won a penalty 30 metres out McLeish slotted between the uprights, pulling the score back to 5-3.

Hamilton tried to attack but were caught cold in the 30th minute when a 40m penalty allowed Tom Hiddleston to stretch Saints’ lead to 8-3.

Hamilton were forced into a change when Craig Inglis injured a shoulder and was replaced by brother Ross, returning to the field for the first time this year.

Ross was called into immediate action as he won a foot race with Henderson to touch down safely behind the posts as the Dumfries man looked to add to his lead.

Dumfries worked hard to stretch their lead in the second half and when Diez fed Gemmell the stand-off kicked crossfield for Henderson to collect and crash over in the corner, with Hiddleston converting for a 15-3 lead.

Stevie Turnbull showed quick thinking to break around the edge of a ruck, taking the ball to the five-metre line before being dispossessed and the chance was lost.

Cowie disrupted Dumfries’ line-out and Turnbull fed Sutherland, who quickly found Ash Mason and he forced his way through and touch down at the posts, with McLeish converting, reducing the score to 15-10 with 30 minutes left.

Hamilton harried their opponents in a bid to get ahead and thought they had driven the ball over, only for Saints to defend well.

However when the Bulls were awarded a five-metre scrum they drove over the line, allowing Selfridge to drop on the ball, with McLeish converting for a 17-15 lead.

After being forced back Hamilton showed patience in taking the ball back upfield through the middle.

After an exchange of kicks Hiddleston was forced to clear, giving Hamilton a lineout midway inside the opposition half.

Richie Maxton rose to collect and Selfridge burst forward, with Tamati Rhind continuing the charge before being halted just short of the line.

The Bulls recycled quickly and Turnbull fed to the backs, with Sutherland feinting to feed wide while spotting a gap and dashing through the middle to touch down under the posts.

McLeish converted for 24-15 with 15 minutes left.

Hamilton pressed forward looking for a fourth try, but were nearly caught out at the back when Ali Mather collected a Dumfries line-out, but the Bulls attacked as a unit, forcing the hosts back

Saints defended well and managed to get it back to Diez, who fed to Gemmell and he found Rory Steele, who showed nimble footwork to dash forward, only to be felled by a mistimed tackle from McLeish, who was promptly sin-binned.

Hiddleston went for goal with the penalty but saw it drift wide as Hamilton held out for the win.

Glasgow Under-18s will play their next two games at Laigh Bent, against Edinburgh on Sunday, February 27, from 11am, and Borders on Sunday, March 6, from 1pm.