Greenock Wanderers’ losing streak in home league fixtures stretched into its second year at Fort Matilda on Saturday as visitors Musselburgh crushed the locals by 60 points in the BT National League Second Division.

It was another demoralising experience for the Greenock men who conceded eight tries to a rampant Musselburgh side that looked every inch championship contenders.

To publicly criticise the present incumbents of the red black and gold shirt would be harsh in the extreme.

The current crop of players are trying their best but the sad fact is that although they can compete with the teams at the lower end of the table they are out of their depth against the top sides, who are battling it out for the title.

Wanderers’ defensive woes continued with more inept tackling but they were not helped by the non-availability of key players that resulted in hooker Alan McMichael playing at scrum half and half-back Andy McDougall moving to centre.

The plaudits must go though to an excellent ‘Burgh’ side that thrilled their small band of travelling supporters and indeed the neutral observer with some sublime rugby that was entertaining, fast- flowing and direct.

Their cause was helped by a fine refereeing display from female whistler Miss Alex Pratt who ensured Wanderers’ penchant for infringing at the breakdown was stamped out early when she awarded a flurry of penalties to the visitors.

The actions of the Kiwi referee clearly indicated that she would tolerate no nonsense for the remainder of the game.

The scoreboard started ticking over on nine minutes when Musselburgh goal-kicker Danny Owenson posted notice of his efficiency with the boot when he converted a penalty from close range with his opening salvo of the game.

Thereafter the visitors gave Wanderers a lesson in aggressive ball-carrying, accurate rucking and crisp distribution.

On 12 minutes, a series of phases took play close to Wanderers’ line and when scrum-half Owenson fed his half-back partner Alfonso Horomia he crashed through some weak tackling to touchdown close to the posts. Owenson’s conversion was a formality.

Five minutes later skipper Andy Cook this time put the finishing touches to a similar move, with Owenson once more chipping in with the conversion.

Two more tries followed in quick succession as the Greenock defence was ripped asunder.

On 20 minutes quick ball was spun wide and right winger Adam Hook accelerated past his opposite man on the outside and breezed in at the corner.

A few moments later he added his second when a beautifully disguised pass by full-back James Doig found him in space and the fleet of foot winger simply out-sprinted the Wanderers defence with consummate ease to touchdown under the posts.

Owenson converted both tries to give the visitors the try-scoring bonus point and an unassailable 31 point lead with only 23 minutes on the clock.

A further successful penalty on the stroke of half-time from the trusty boot of Owenson showed that there would be no let up from the visitors.

The second period started in similar vein when visiting number eight Steve Finnegan took advantage of more defensive dithering and ghosted untouched through the centre of the Wanderers defence to score under the posts. Owenson’s conversion stretched the lead to 41-0.

The locals stuck to their task and on 64 minutes were rewarded for some pressure of their own when lock forward Ally Abernethy, pictured below, barged over from short range. Stand-off Kenny Diffenthal’s conversion accounted for Wanderers only points of the game.

At the other end normal service resumed with three more tries for ‘Burgh’ in the closing stages.

On 72 minutes quality lineout ball was secured at a set-piece close to Wanderers’ 22-metre line. The visiting pack caught, drove then released possession to the hungry Musselburgh backline and they wasted no time in feeding flying winger Adam Hook to claim his hat-trick.

With three minutes remaining more pressure took play close to Wanderers’ line. Referee Pratt awarded ‘Burgh ‘a penalty and with the Wanderers’ defence in total disarray, and showing remarkable naivety, scrum-half Owenson took the quick tap and sauntered over untouched. His conversion extended the advantage to 53-7.

Not content with that satisfactory scoreline Musselburgh also insisted on having the last word.

Deep into stoppage time Wanderers’ full-back Leigh Tyley tried to engineer a break out of defence but he was snared 15 metres out and dispossessed by number eight Finnegan, who had a free and unobstructed run to the line.

Owenson converted again to round off what had been an impressive display of effective and clinical rugby from the men from Stoneyhill.

Wanderers are at home again next week when they host Newton Mearns based side Whitecraigs.

Wanderers are sponsored by Texas Instruments