Clydesdale / Lanark – 7
Bishopton – 79
Tries; Neil (2), Robertson (2), Doak, Douglass, Duncan, Glassford (2), Brown (2), Gervais, MacIntosh
Conversions; Duncan (2) , Robertson, Leslie (4)
Penalties;
After a very wet week, the gents team were relieved to find their game still set to go ahead after suffering a number of early season postponements already. The trip out to Stonehouse was a welcome one too, it has been several years since Bishopton last played there. This time would be to take on the combined force of the recently merged Clydesdale and Lanark, ‘Lanarkdale’.
Despite having a couple of regular starters unavailable through injury, unbeaten Bishopton travelled with a strong squad that were confident of putting in a solid performance against their hosts.
Having won the pre match coin toss Bishopton were given the honours and Duncan got the game underway. There wasn’t long to wait for the first try of the game as Bishopton started in clinical fashion. After reclaiming the kick-off, the visitors went through several rumbling phases from the forwards before working the ball out wide where Neil took the ball and crashed over the line, carrying 4 opposition players with him. Duncan’s conversion went wide and Bishopton took the lead 0-5.
Bishopton extended their lead soon after. From turnover ball at the ruck, the ball was worked from side to side before prop, Ali Doak, rampaged up the middle of the park gaining 15 metres. From the breakdown, the ball was worked out to Kyle Robertson who was able to glide through the defence to score under the posts. The conversion from Duncan was good. 0-12 Bishopton.
Under relentless Bishopton pressure, the hosts frequently struggled to exit their own half for long periods, only eventually reaching Bishopton territory through a penalty kick to touch. From the resulting lineout though, disaster struck. Bishopton skipper, Alex Neil, managed to steal the throw and after a couple of strong carries from Ross McGowan and Craig Gervais, the visitors were within striking distance again. Another score seemed inevitable and it eventually came when Doak received the ball at short range and was able to force his way in to score the try. The conversion was wide leaving the score at 0-17 Bishopton.
Try number four soon followed. The dominant Bishopton pack made a mess of the Lanarkdale scrum and from the resulting loose ball, the impressive Doak was able to pop the ball up to Duncan who made a 50m line break before shipping the ball wide to Fin Douglass for an easy finish to secure the bonus point. The conversion was again wide and the score moved out to 0 – 22.
By now, the Bishopton scoring was coming thick and fast and Duncan was the next onto the scoresheet. Another scrum won on opposition ball allowed scrum half, Carey, to release Duncan who fended off the first defender before cantering his way to the try line from 25m. The conversion from in front of the posts left the score at 0-29.
The pattern of Lanarkdale mistakes, strong Bishopton set-piece and clinical finishing continued. From yet another scrum, Bishopton launched a strike move from the base. Number 8 Neil, broke to the blind side before putting Gervais into space to make good ground. When Gervais was tackled, accurate breakdown work allowed quick ball for the relentless Bishopton attack and the ball went wide, allowing Sandy Glassford to glide over to extend the lead to 0-34. Conversion missed.
The final score of the half came from long range. The kick off was regathered in the Bish 22 before being shipped wide to Robertson who produced a magnificent solo effort, scything through the Lanarkdale defence to race 70 metres downfield to touch down under the posts before converting his own try. Half time score Lanarkdale 0-41 Bishopton.
The second half got off to a fast start as Ross McGowan broke a tackle and made 50m up the pitch before releasing Robertson who moved Bish to within touching distance of the try line. From here, the forwards took over with some hard carrying, finished off by prop, Callum Brown as he smashed over from a metre to score his first ever try for the club. Robertson again took up the kicking duties but it was wide of the mark. 0-46 Bish.
With the game over as a contest, the scoring hit a lull as both teams traded blows and errors crept in. Some Bish interchanges injected life back into the game though and from a penalty 10m out that Glassford took quickly and pushed wide, Gervais carried into contact. Excellent presentation at the breakdown allowed Glassford to come in and pick up straight from the base of the ruck and sneak over for another score. Peter Leslie’s conversion dropped short. 0 – 51 Bishopton.
Another score soon followed. Bishopton were clinical in getting the ball quickly back into the opposition half, working the ball through the majority of the team’s hands. Brown received the ball 20m out and shook off two defenders before spinning himself through another two to jog in the last 5m to score his second of the afternoon. Leslie this time converted, giving Bish a commanding 0 – 58 lead.
The wind assisted restart from the home side went long but Bish again ran it straight back. This time the backs combining for a fine team try. Robertson made good ground before putting Leslie into space, who in turn, rolled back the years, evading defenders before popping to Gervais who finished the move with a trademark ‘swan dive’ over the line. Leslie converted again, extending the Bishopton lead to 0-65.
The floodgates had long since opened, and like the Lanarkshire weather, the scoring showed no signs of drying up anytime soon. Bish quickly received a scrum after the restart, and were able to work the ball around the field once more, with several players carrying the ball 10m or more, working it into the opposition 22. Neil then carried for about 10m to score the try, wading through the defence to land on top of the ball. Leslie’s conversion was good, extending the Bish lead to 0 – 72.
There was then some more back and forth as both teams made changes. The final Bishopton score of the day after some lovely interplay between the front row. Doak was again at the heart of it, exchanging passes with Craig Mcintosh who was able to power over from close quarters to become another first time try-scorer for the club. Leslie converted to close out Bishopton’s account for the day and give the visitors a handsome 0 – 79 lead.
It was Lanarkdale that had the last joy of the day though. As full-time approached the pride started to come out in the home team and they managed to keep Bishopton pinned in their own 22 through a series of penalties. They continued to tap and let the forwards do the hard work, finally getting a score in the corner. The conversion from right on the touchline was by far the best kick at goal of the day and gave the home side something to cheer about.
The full time whistle followed soon after and brought an end to the match just as the rain started to pour again having been on and off during the game.
The Ingliston Country Club & Hotel player of the match was Alistair Doak who made several turnovers, a few cracking runs and topped it all off with a try.
The Hampton & McMurray Glue player was James Kyle who was instrumental at the restarts collecting several of them and kickstarting the phases towards the next try and giving the team a solid base to build from.
The result sees Bishopton go top of the league on points difference despite having a game in hand on their nearest challengers.
Bishopton have a fallow week this week and are due to travel to Lochaber on the 22nd.
