(PEEBLES RUGBY FOR PN EDITION 14
SEPTEMBER. PLUS PHOTOS – BILL BRODIE TOOK SHOTS OF GYTES DEBUTANTS TIG JOCELYN
(6),CRAIG HUNTER (14) AND DONALD SANGSTER (7).)
Number
13 unlucky for Peebles
H.L. Parker reports from the
Gytes
Peebles 20
Dunfermline 27
In Saturday’s keenly-contested Scottish Hydro Electric Premier III
encounter at a sunny Gytes, Peebles had the misfortune to be up against an
impressive Fife outfit whose No 13 Stevie McColl was in particularly
free-scoring form.
For the Scotland under-19 centre contributed no less than seventeen
points to the Dunfermline tally of 4 tries, 2 conversions and a penalty to
Peebles’ 2 tries, 2 conversions and 2 penalties.
Trevor Keen and Neil Hogarth had the home tries, both players
incidentally having touched down the last time the two teams met in December
’06.
Donald Anderson meanwhile added 10 points from kicks on Saturday.
Said Director of Rugby Bob Hogarth, “Overall on the day I think our
forwards played better than Dunfermline’s, but their backs were better than
ours. McColl and their No 15 Swankie in particular punished us when they got a
bit of space.”
“But we dominated the first 40 minutes, they weren’t really in the
game.”
“However, indiscipline cost us dear,” Bob went on, “Willie
Aitken’s sinbinning cost us 14 points. It’s something we’ve got to cut
out. But, of course, it’s difficult for player caught up in the heat of
battle.”
“Our younger boys in particular will learn from the experience of
Saturday’s game,” continued Bob, “And there’s plenty for the coaches to
work on ahead of Ardrossan’s visit to the Gytes on Saturday.”
“Overall against Dunfermline the commitment was there and we at least
got a bonus point. It was a pity about their interception try, but when you’re
chasing the game, that’s what happens.”
He concluded, “Dunfermline in my opinion will be one of the teams
challenging for the Division III title.”
“But I felt that we’d the capability of beating them on Saturday. I
don’t think that they’re any better a side than we are.”
“But when games are close, the result often hangs on small things.”
Peebles’ personnel changes from the previous game were as follows: In
MacDonald’s absence, Smellie moved to centre while former Selkirk speedster
Craig Hunter made his Peebles’ league debut as a right-wing replacement for
the Posso Flyer.
Upfront, Harvey joined MacNish in the boilerhouse thanks to Jocelyn’s
shift to No 6 for the unavailable Cruikshank.
Both the Kiwi blindside flanker and No 7 D. Sangster were making their
Gytes league debuts.
The other change from the starting XV at Livingston was Farmer’s return
at full-back on Saturday.
His inclusion saw Hogarth retain the No 11 shirt at Clancy’s expense.
Lastly, McConnell and Rodger replaced McKinnon and A. Sangster
respectively as they joined Clancy on the bench.
Following a minute’s silence prior to kick-off in Jimmie Swanston’s
memory, a Hunter break out of defence with Farmer’s support was the prelude to
the game’s opening score.
From the ensuing line-out, Dunfermline were penalised by referee Malcolm
Gray (Penicuik) as Jocelyn, Sangster and No 3 A. Clark drove deep into enemy
territory.
A Kiwi combination followed as hooker Keen cashed in on Jocelyn’s
line-out take by driving over in the left corner. Anderson added the extras with
a superbly struck 14th-minute conversion to put Peebles 7-0 in front.
Though the home kicker failed with a penalty attempt soon after, he’d
better luck in 26 minutes after the Fifers infringed as they thwarted a break by
No 8 Paton and scrum half Moore.
And the Peebles No 9 again caught the eye a few minutes later with a
finely-judged pressure-relieving touch from a tight angle.
However, following Aitken’s 38th-minute yellow-carding for a marginally
late shoulder charge, a Dunfermline drive against the depleted home pack saw
fly-half O’Connor capitalise with a well-taken close range try.
McColl’s conversion narrowed the gap to 3 points at 7-10 a scoreline
that flattered the Fifers at that stage.
Worse followed after the break as a McColl try gave his side a 12-10
lead. However, with Aitken restored to the fray and McConnell and N. Clark
replacing Keen and A. Clark, a second Anderson penalty edged Peebles 13-12 in
front.
Only briefly though as McColl’s 51st-minute strike put the Fifers 15-13
up.
And though Hunter’s flawless catch, ‘mark’ and clearance was
matched by Anderson’s astute cover of an enemy kick through, a Swankie counter
increased the visitors’ advantage to 20-13 in 58 minutes.
The next ten minutes brought unremitting pressure on the Fifers’ 22,
but somehow their line remained intact – even after a sinbinning reduced their
number to fourteen.
Instead, with Clancy on for the ailing Smellie, the game was put out of
Peebles’ reach at 27-13 by McColl’s 72nd-minute interception try.
But only just, plucky play in adversity by Harvey, Farmer, N. Clark and
Clancy sending Hogarth over at the left corner.
But though Anderson’s well-struck kick won Peebles a bonus point at
20-27, time ran out with the scoreline unchanged.