Hamilton Rugby Club edge win over Dunfermline

Mar 24 2011 Hamilton Advertiser

Hamilton 23 - 17 Dunfermline

HAMILTON’S stop-start season stuttered into life last Saturday with a win over second-bottom Dunfermline in this rescheduled SRU Premier 3 match.

Playing towards Mill Road and facing a strong wind Hamilton started strongly but were unsettled when the visitors’ livewire Scott Swankie burst through the middle.

Cowie brought the full-back down but not before Steven Morley was forced to retire after pulling his hamstring in the tackle.

David Sutherland slotted into the centre but Hamilton were forced to make another change on the eight-minute mark when Ross Inglis limped off to be replaced by brother Craig.

The changes did not disrupt the Hamilton play and when the Bulls won a penalty just inside the visitors’ half McLeish slotted his kick into the corner to give the Bulls a lineout on the five metre line.

Cowie rose to collect the ball and the Bulls pack drove to the line. John Selfridge carried the ball as the Hamilton pack crossed the line, touching down to give the home side a 5-0 lead after 12 minutes.

Dunfermline then pegged Hamilton back in their own half and were rewarded on the 20-minute mark when McNeish slotted a 38-yard penalty to bring the score back to 5-3.

McNeish had another penalty attempt after half an hour but his kick drifted right of the posts. However, the Fifers went ahead just minutes later when Scot Gracie charged down a clearance and James Lawrie collected to go up the empty blind side and score. McNeish converted to put the visitors 10-5 ahead.

Chris McLaughlin and Richie Maxton all had positive runs at the defence taking the game to just inside the visitor's 22.

As Maxton went to ground Dunfermline were penalised for offside and McLeish made no mistake to pull the score back to 10-8 with six minutes to go to the break.

Four minutes later Hamilton had regained the lead when Dunfermline were yet again penalised for offside and McLeish slotted the kick.

Following a botched re-start, Hamilton’s back line spilled the ball and McGregor kicked on.

Chris Stannage collected the kick and McLeish cleared upfield, but the ball went straight to McGregor who fed Swankie. The full back spotted a gap and threw a long pass to Sky Laurie. The big second row moved quickly upfield off loading to Lawrie as the defence closed. The number 8 sprinted down the touchline feeding inside to Warren Daley for the visitors' second try. McNeish converted as the referee blew for half-time and the visitors turned around with a 17-11 lead.

Coaches Dale Lyon and Stuart Eynon must have said something dramatic at the break because the Bulls were quickly into attack as the second half.

However, the Fifers’ defence was resolute and with 20 second-half minutes gone the visitors still had a six-point lead. Dunfermline had chances to increase their lead but McNeish missed a drop goal attempt and a penalty dropped short.

Hamilton managed to win turnover ball following a lineout and McLeish kicked downfield. Swankie gathered but as the Bulls attacked he sliced his hurried clearance giving the Bulls a lineout midway inside the visitors’ half. Maxton rose to collect Grant McCowan's throw and Stevie Turnbull moved the ball right. Inglis crashed forward but was halted five metres short. The ball was quickly recycled and Cowie burst through to touch down. McLeish hit the long conversion straight between the uprights and the Bulls led 18-17.

With seven minutes left Cowie intercepted the ball and combined with Maxton to secure possession. Hamilton pressed forward and the ball was released to the backs. Sutherland chipped to the corner and Stannage beat Josh Harris in a foot race to touch the ball down to give the Bulls a 23- 17 lead.

Hamilton pressed for the fourth try but were unable to break the Dunfermline defence again and had to settle for the four-point win.

With four games to go this win keeps Hamilton on track for the second promotion spot back to Premier 2 but they will need to improve their performance if they are to take anything from their next game which is away to league leaders Whitecraigs on April 2.