Hyndland – 28
Bishopton – 61
Tries; Brown, Duncan, Neil (2), Hunter, R Moore, Glassford, Douglass, Robertson
Conversions; Bates (8)
Penalties;
Yellow Cards; B Moore
With 2022 coming to a quiet end with the last of the rugby being played in November giving the Bishopton squad a good month of rest, before making the quick trip to Scotstoun to take on Hyndland in the 2023 opener. There was a shake up in the Bishopton line up with a few players having to shift into positions that they have not played before.
The game was taken underway with Bates sending the ball deep into the Hyndland half, Bish kept Hyndland on the back foot for the majority of the opening 15 minutes, the home side were able to keep the Bish at bay though. Bish were able to steal a Hyndland lineout after it was overthrown, it then took several strong carries to get the men in green back to the try line were the ball was stopped inches from the line. Step up Prop Callum Brown who picked the ball from the back of the ruck and drove over to score the try. Bates was able to convert from under the posts to put Bishopton 0-7 up.
Hyndland looked to start pushing back from the restart, gaining a series of Hyndland penalties, this resulted in them going for touch but missing the corner and the ball going dead. This gave Bishopton the scrum on their own 10 meter line. Neil picked the ball from the back of the scrum, and burst through to halfway before popping to Duncan who hit a gap in the Hyndland line and was able to run in under the posts from halfway. Bates converted the straightforward kick to double Bishopton’s lead to 0-14.
Bishopton were soon back on the attack again. Working the ball out wide in a team effort of moving the ball about the pitch, Number 8 Alex Neil ended up with the ball and he was able to break through the line uncontested as the Hyndland defense parted. Allowing the back row to jog in under the posts. Bates’ conversion was good, pushing the Bish lead further ahead. 0-21.
Hyndland came back on the attack from the restart and were working their way up the middle of the pitch. The referee blew up for a Hyndland penalty as Bishopton were off their feet at the ruck. Before Bishopton could reset, the Hyndland player with the ball took a very quick tap before any Bish players could retreat 10m, allowing him to get under the posts without any challenge. The conversion was good. Pulling the score back for Hyndland to 7 -21.
With a prolonged injury break putting a stop to the game for a period of time, the game got back underway with Bishopton picking up where they left off. With Number 8 Neil again managing to break away unchallenged from the back of a scrum from 60 meters. Bates again knocked over the easy conversion putting Bishopton 7 – 28 ahead.
The final action of the half came as Hooker Ryan Moore secured a turnover ball from Hyndland, allowing Duncan to break from the ruck before popping the ball to Hunter who was able to run in from just outside the 22m line and work his way round under the posts. Bates converted making the Halftime score 7 – 35.
The second half was off to a flier as Bishopton got an early lineout that was secured easily before being shipped off the back to the forwards. With the move being finished off by Ryan Moore driving through the defense and diving on the ball. Bates made the easy conversion. This was quickly followed by yet another try as Douglass broke away after Hyndland having a good run of possession, and the Bishopton managing to keep their cool under pressure. Douglass secured the ball and broke away before popping the ball to Glassford to finish the try under the posts. Bates slotted the ball once more, sending Bish 7 – 49 clear.
There was a flurry of scoringing to follow as Hyndland managed to pull a couple of tries back either side of Bishopton grabbing another. Hyndland managed to steal a Bish lineout and break through the line unopposed, getting the easy conversion. The play was then pulled back Bishopton way as Robertson sent the grubber through allowing Douglass to pick up the ball and dive under the posts, the conversion taking the score to 14-56.
Hyndland then managed another two tries as the again forced Bishopton into building up penalties and managed to take another quick tap catching Bishopton unaware, before running in to score. A yellow card was quick to follow as Prop Boab Moore saw his marching orders. In the franticness of defense Bish looked to secure the ball and work their way out of the 22 before a loose pass found a Hyndland player, who was able to walk in to score with the ball. This brought the score to 28 – 56 in Bishopton’s favor.
The scoring for the day was closed out from the restart as Centre Kyle Robertson collected the ball and ran it in from 40 meters. Rounding out the day was Bates as he lined up what would be the final action of the day, but the perfect round of goal kicking evaded him and he left his record at 8 from 9. Making the final score 28 – 61.
The Ingliston Player of the Match was Prop Alistair Doak who made several strong carries with the ball.
The Hampton and McMurry Glue player was Rhys Wilson who put in a strong defensive shift after coming on and provided a very selfless assist for Douglass when he had the chance to run it in himself.
This result pushes Bishopton back to 2nd in the league 2 points behind Birkmyre with one game in hand to play. This weekend sees Bishopton host Moffat at home with a 2pm Kick off.
