Garnock get the blues
Published 29 Sep 2011 09:30
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National League One EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY BLUES 62 GARNOCK 13
GARNOCK travelled through to Edinburgh on a lovely sunny Saturday morning to tackle the might of Edinburgh University Blues in the latest quest for league points, writes Tom Dickson.
With the Blues coming on to a winning streak and at full strength it looked as if Garnock would struggle. This proved to be all too true. The students were taller, heavier and faster than the Garnock squad.
Garnock started the game and the game swung from end to end as the kickers tested their opponents. The Garnock pack were holding their own in the set scrums and winning more than their share of the initial lineouts through Callum Robertson.
After six minutes Garnock were awarded a penalty when a Blues forward strayed offside at a maul. Rory Walker converted and Garnock moved into a 3-0 lead. This was to be the only time they were in front.
This reversal seemed to galvanise the University squad and they started to dominate the game with some powerful running by their backs. In saying that they did not look like being able to breach the Garnock try line due to good cover defence. However in the 18th minute after the Blues threequarters had made ground to the Garnock 22 metre area they scored a well worked try through their scrum half John-Paul Stitchbury. The conversion was missed but the students were 5 -3 in the lead.
They repeated the dose in the 25th minute when winger James Walkinshaw rounded off another fast running threequarter movement to score near the posts. This time Rob Cuthbertson converted and the score moved on to 12-3 against Garnock.
Four minutes later Edinburgh were penalised when Paul Johnston was illegally stopped when breaking from a scrum. Walker converted and Garnock pulled back to 12-6 in arrears.
From then until half-time Edinburgh University were in total control and scored a further three tries through Davidson, Gerald, and Walkinshaw. Cuthbertson converted two and the interval score was 31 - 6 in Edinburgh's favour.
The Blues started the second half where they left off in the first and scored a further two tries in the first 8 minutes of the restart through Davis and Morrison. Cuthbertson converted the second to make it 43 - 6 for Edinburgh.
Garnock rallied and, through some good handling from the backs and concerted driving by the forwards, were camped inside the Blues 22 metre area for some time. They rucked and mauled to the try line and seemed to have scored only for the referee to deem the ball was "held up."
However their perseverance was duly rewarded in the 58th minute when Johnston scored from a series of pick and drives to the Edinburgh line. Walker converted to make the score 43 - 13.
This proved to be the last score for a Garnock squad who had lost Graham Robertson, Tommy Moore and Phil Cullen to injury during the game. Replacements Mark Thompson, Angus Collins and Ewan Perry filled in but again they were lighter and smaller than the Edinburgh Squad.
In the last 10 minutes Edinburgh scored a further three tries through Rory Jones, Neil Aitken and Walkinshaw two of which were converted. The final score was Edinburgh University Blues 62 Garnock 13.
This was a comprehensive defeat for Garnock. The University squad were powerful in their running and their passing was done at speed. The Garnock tackling was not of the standard required at this level. The forwards coped well against their more powerful and street-wise opponents. The won more than their share of set scrums and line outs but were second best in the loose play.
Saturday sees another trip to the Capital to take on RHC Cougars in Round 6 of the league campaign after taking in the Scotland v England World Cup match.
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