Helensburgh

Helensburgh v Clydebank 17-0

Helensburgh's 1st XV opened 2012 in perfect style, gaining victory over derby rivals Clydebank and moving to the top of West Division 2 as a direct result.

Only the enormous effort by club members and volunteers, turning up all morning with forks in hand, allowed the pitch to be played on after the recent bouts of torrential rain and storms.

So on a soft surface but with the sun shining, Helensburgh were able to kick off 2012 and play their first competitive fixture since Lenzie on November 19!   {jathumbnail off}

As expected after such a long lay off, a certain amount of “Ring rust” was expected as the weather not only affected fixtures but also training nights as all facilities have been impossible to use due to the adverse weather.

Helensburgh chose to play with the wind at their backs in the first half, hoping to get some early scores as they fully expected the pitch to deteriorate as the game went on, making any hope of expansive rugby more difficult.

Clydebank kicked off and immediately Burgh were penalised for going over the top at the tackle and Clydebank elected to kick for goal. The Bankies scrum half ,who was guilty of missing the kick that would have given the Bankies victory against Burgh in the first outing between the two earlier in the season, stayed true to form and missed his opening and only effort at the posts all afternoon.

From the re start, David Sterry put a ball long into the Clydebank half and with the help of the wind, Helensburgh kept Bankies in their half for the majority of the first period.

From the next exchanges and over the first quarter ,Helensburgh missed three penalties with Sterry having a second off day with the boot. The usually reliable full back will need to improve significantly with some difficult fixtures including the West Regional Bowl Final on Jan 28.

From a ruck on the grandstand side, the ball was quickly spread to Black to Riding, who neatly put Irving into space. Irving linked with Sterry who went in at the corner for the opening try which was unconverted.

Unusually, the Grizzlies lineout failed to function to the normal high standards which meant more scrummaging than perhaps the team would have liked, but to the players credit they competed and at times got the upper hand at the scrum engages taking possession against the head.

It was from one such scrum that the second score came. The ball came shooting out from the Clydebank scrum where it was pounced on by Voight, the ball was passed quickly and before Bankies could react, Jonny Drake was already touching the ball down in the corner. Again the try went unconverted but Helensburgh took a 10-0 lead.

Clydebank made efforts to get out of their half using the kicking of McCombe, but Helensburgh continued to use the conditions to their advantage, insisting on playing in the Bankies half.

The final score of the half - and as it turned out the afternoon - came from captain Black. From an excellent Grizzlies scrum 10 metres from Bankies line, Black and Riding combined with Irving to create confusion in the midfield defence. This was done so well that Black slid through the defence untouched to coast in under the posts for a try, converted by Sterry, and a margin of 17-0.

The second half was all about the bonus point try for Helensburgh but as conditions deteriorated and clean possession became more difficult to produce, the home crowd were left watching a number of near misses.

The referee was finding his afternoon becoming increasingly frustrating as the Clydebank side looked to employ spoiling tactics at the breakdown, some legal and some not so legal, but to their credit done well enough and out of sight of the official! Frustrations of the Clydebank players were typified when the Bankies scrum-half was sin binned for punching his opposite number Terry Smith in an attempt to hand off .

From a defensive perspective this was another fine display by Burgh, a second consecutive league clean sheet and only 74 points conceded in all league encounters. By far and away the best defensive statistic in this year's league competition.

Clydebank players became increasing frustrated as their limited means of attack were repelled in all areas, whether its was the forwards picking and driving around the base of the ruck, or their big centre taking the ball up the middle of the track.

The visitors failed to pressure the Grizzlies line, they failed to utilise their dominance in the lineout and this left the second half scoreless and an anti-climax for the home and visiting support, who were probably looking forward to a game just as much as the players after such a long layoff.

The 1st XV travel to Wigtownshire next week (weather permitting!!) and are still to find out their cup final opponents as the semi-final between Lenzie and Cumbernauld was again called off.

• Burgh: Sterry, A.Rogers, Irving, Riding, Drake, Black, Smith, Boyd, McNee, Feltham, Greggain, Clipston, Voight, Somerville, P.Rogers. Subs: Miller, Hanks, Inglis, Calderwood, Watt, Cairns, Bowman.
• Visit the website: Helensburgh Rugby Club