Shawlands – 19
Bishopton – 29
Tries; Richardson, Moore
Conversions; Catto (2)
Penalties; Catto (5)
Yellow; Davies
It has been a long eighteen months and with preseason fixtures finally coming to an end it was time to get back to the main feature for Bishopton with the start of the Tennent’s West Region League Division 3. Bishopton made the short journey to Dumbreck to take on Shawlands, a team that always brings about a tough competition for the Bish.
It was a strong traveling team that went to Dumbreck as it was fully loaded, with several players set to make debuts and many making returns to the first team. With a strong support following to make a lot of noise on the touch line to cheer the boys on. Shawlands got the game underway and Bishopton got an early penalty as Shawlands came in from the side. This would be a sign of the game to come as the penalty count would creep up over the course of the game.
The first twenty minutes of the game were very much even as both teams got back into the rigors of league rugby, finding their feet in the first game back. But this wasn’t the case for Bishopton Fullback and debutant Finalay Douglass who found himself in the air early on under the first high ball of the day. Plucking the ball out of the sky and making a quick break as soon as he hit the ground, quickly making a strong 40m dash to the opposition 5 meter line. A fine start for the latest graduate off of the production line that is the Bishopton Youth Section in recent years. Upon getting to the 5 meter line he was able to pop the ball off to Wing Bob Davies who took the ball into contact, letting the team build the phases up towards the try line. But Shawlands defence stood resolute. Gaining them a penalty to clear the lines.
This gave Shawlands the opportunity to build some momentum of their own, gaining a further two penalties that found them 10 meters from the Bish line where they were finally given a scrum after Bish were able to steal the resultant lineout only to knock on in the subsequent phase. The Shawlands scrum was strong and able to nudge Bish back giving them the platform to make a break, the ball was whipped across the back line with the Shawlands backs trying to make something of it but they were unable to. The ball then came to the forwards who put in three battering phases of short ball pulling the Bishopton defence in that ultimately left a 4 man overlap for the backs on the left wing. Once the Shawlands Scrum Half spotted this it was a simple series of quick crisp passing that saw the ball touched down for the first score of the day. Putting the host ahead for the only time of the day at 7 – 0 Shawlands.
The game took a swift turn after the try with Bishopton tightening up the defence for the rest of the first half and going back to the basics that have been drilled so well in training over the last year. It began to work with the first penalty in front of the posts coming soon after and Catto opting to line it up on the tee. The straight forward kick sailed over the post and started to pull the score back in. 7 – 3.
It was quickly followed by a second penalty in a similar position. This time set up by another debutant, as some forced changes saw Carl Bates make his debut. Having come along to the clubs new Saturday morning Touch Section and subsequently Over 35’s Training on a Tuesday. (Before the old boys realised he still had enough in the bag to make it into the 1XV) A lengthy boot saw Bates send the ball deep into the Shawlands half bringing the new 50:22 rule into play giving Bishopton the lineout. Neil secured the lineout and popped the ball down to Glassford who released the backs, the penalty soon came and Catto slotted the ball putting the deficit to 1 point making the score 7 – 6 in Shawlands favour.
Bishopton again got back to playing some very silky rugby in the Shawlands half with two further penalties in front of the post the fist of which saw a high tackle and a Yellow card for one of the Shawlands players. Catto took both on and slotted them to push the Bish ahead to a 7 – 12 Half Time Score.
The second half got off to a blistering start with Bish taking the momentum from the first half over after the break, stamping their authority on the game with several lineouts in quick succession. From one of the lineouts Bish were able to strike first in the half, with the ball being passed crisply across the back line from the top of the lineout and Richardson being on the receiving end of the ball. Where he was able to force his way round the shawlands Winger and Fullback shrugging them off and sprinting down the wing from halfway to then turn the corner and get under the posts to put the ball down. Catto added the extras to take the score to 7 – 19.
Shawlands struck back quickly however making their way into Bish half and gaining a penalty and putting it into the corner from the line out the were they were able to gain a penalty from the resulting ruck. The penalty was tapped from 5m out and the Shawlands Number 8 was able to crash over at close range, the conversion was wide making the score 12 – 19 to Bishopton’s advantage. Bishopton hit back with a quick penalty of their own just inside the 10, and Catto took the points slotting the kick from a distance to extend Bishopton’s lead by 10 points 12 – 22.
Bish then gained a stroke of luck when Bates put the ball into the corner looking to put Shawlands on the back foot but the winger caught the ball just as it went out giving Bish the 5m lineout. Bish secured the lineout and hunkered down to maul the ball over the line, Moore at the back was able to control the shove and dive over and secure the try. Catto again slotted a huge kick from the touchline and pushed the score to 12 – 29 Bishopton.
Shawlands in the last 20 minutes looked to steal some of the momentum back and looked like they would mount a late challenge. This was aided when Bob Davies looked to intercept a pass but knocked it on in the process and the referee brandished the yellow card sending Bishopton down to 14 men for 10 minutes. This seemed to give Shawlands a new lease of life as they brought a pure attacking presence to the game in these 10 minutes. But the Bishopton defence held firm for the 10 minutes that they were down a man not letting Shawlands get across the line showing the determination was there to see out the game.
But Shawlands would have the final say in the scoring as they gained a scrum in the bish 22 as they knocked the ball on. From the scrum they were able to play through the phases trying to find a way through the Bish line, and it finally came in the form of the Scrum Half. who was able to sinpe round the side of the final ruck in front of the posts giving his kicker the perfect angle to slot the conversion, to bring the score to 19 – 29 Bishopton.
The game ended in Shawlands possession as they threw a forward pass and the Referee decided to call the game on that action and see an end to an exciting opening game of the season.
The Lorimers Man of the Match was debutant Carl Bates who when he came on was able to manage the game well from Stand Off and put in some crucial kicks from hand.
The Barnhill Farm Glue player was Finalay Douglass who also made his debut and first Senior appearance was strong under the highball and a threat in open play with the ball in hand.
Next week sees a return to Rugby at Holmpark in the league with the Isle of Mull visiting. The game will be an early kick off of 12:30 to allow Mull to get the Ferry back home. This will be followed by the 2XV making a long awaited retun to Holmpark also with their second run out of the season aginst Glasgow Raptors with 15:00 Kick Off.
