Greenock Telegraph | Sport | Muddy defeat spoils clubhouse opening

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Monday, 28th January, 2008 12:30

Muddy defeat spoils clubhouse opening

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CAPTAIN COURAGEOUS: Skipper Chris Clark in action.

Pic by: Douglas Hendry

Wanderers 9,

Edinburgh Uni 17

GREENOCK Wanderers’ hopes of christening their new clubhouse with a win got bogged down in the Fort Matilda mud on Saturday as Edinburgh University took the points in a tight and tense match.

This defeat for the locals edges them closer towards relegation, but the positives are Wanderers have a talented young side that will learn from their experiences and will do so while enjoying fantastic new facilities which will be the envy of many clubs in Scotland.

In defeat, Wanderers had stand-outs and Callum Robb, Stuart McTavish and skipper Chris Clark all played well in a generally competent performance. Edinburgh University, though, took their chance when it came, which was the difference on the day.

The weather was the significant factor on Saturday, as Wanderers enjoyed the majority of possession and field position in the first half, the students doing likewise in the second. The University side, though, used the conditions better and kicked for position, keeping Wanderers pinned back throughout the second period.

Defences were very much on top in the first half, but some poor discipline from both sets of forwards gave their respective kickers penalty opportunities. For Wanderers Stuart McTavish kicked beautifully and slotted three difficult attempts at goal to register the locals nine points, but this tally was cancelled out by opposite number Liam Steele, who did likewise.

As the game entered the final quarter, the sides were tied at 9-9.

University, by now with a gale at their backs, looked the most likely to break the deadlock. Brave defending by Wanderers stemmed the tide, but in 60 minutes the dam burst when Steele intruded into the line and fed winger Michael Middleton to go over in the corner to put the visitors into a 14-9 lead.

In 72 minutes, another penalty opportunity for an infringement at a ruck gave Steele the chance to stretch the lead and he made no mistake with a fine kick from left midfield to close the scoring at 17-9 for the University side.

WANDERERS: S McTavish, N Wright, C Clark[C], J Adcock, D Watson, A Devlin, K Murray Patterson, A Hunter, M Rodger, M McDonald, J Mooney, J McKenna, A Abernethy, C Robb, Replacements M Coyle, L Scully, A McDougall.

l Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.

l Wanderers thank piper Campbell Cairns of Inverclyde Scouts Pipe Band for playing a Highland lament at the minute’s silence on Saturday, in memory of Calum MacIntyre, who died playing for the club 100 years ago this week. As a token of respect, president Donnie Cunningham laid flowers on behalf of the club at MacIntyre’s grave, which is in Greenock Cemetery.

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