Wanderers make amends against Morgan Academy
Published 5 Dec 2011 12:00
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Greenock Wanderers enjoyed a fine five try romp against Morgan Academy FP at Fort Matilda on Saturday and exacted revenge for the earlier season defeat with a stirring display in difficult conditions.
For the locals, it was their first half performance - playing against the elements - that secured the victory and four tries recorded by the interval meant the win bonus point was also secured.
On a wet, windy and muddy afternoon, the Wanderers pack had to establish control early and they did so through a solid set piece performance.
Skipper Matt Gray as always led by example and Martin Lavelle, Graham Mooney and Calum Robb also caught the eye with some outstanding individual contributions.
Behind the scrum, Andy McDougall and Kenny Diffenthal used possession wisely and Kieren Smith and David Watson were prominent with some strong and elusive running.
The visitors kicked-off towards the Wood Street end with a strong wind at their backs and the expectation was that Wanderers would have to defend against the elements and an in-form Morgan side throughout the first period.
Surprisingly, it was Wanderers who offered most in attack and the score board started ticking over as early as the fourth minute.
Diffenthal launched a speculative kick deep into Morgan territory and as the visitors defence dithered and failed to cope with the loose ball squirming near to their line, scrum half McDougall followed up and dived on the ball to open the scoring.
The Dundee side reacted positively and on 10 minutes were awarded a scrum close to Wanderers line. Flank forward Ian Lockhart picked up at the base and drove hard at the hosts defence. He was held up short but the secondary drive from prop forward Calum McKenzie was enough to breach Wanderers line and level the score. Stand-off John Milliken knocked over the conversion to give the visitors a 7-5 lead.
Wanderers appeared rocked by the visitors' urgency and had to defend stoutly to prevent further damage.
On 18 minutes, a fine flowing backs move threatened the hosts line once more but when Milliken floated a pass to his winger, David Watson intercepted and ran the length of the field to touch down under the posts. Diffenthal chipped over from the tee to regain the lead for Wanderers 12-7.
A few moments later, captain Gray carried play deep into the visitors half and some fine interlinking play with Watson and Smith resulted in the Wanderers centre breaking through a desperate last ditch tackle and dotting down wide on the right.
Leading 17-7, the locals looked comfortably in command but some indiscipline at the ruck led to two penalties being awarded in quick succession, just as half-time approached. Milliken was unerring with his attempts to close the gap to 17-13.
The Fort Matilda crowd's nerves were calmed though right on the interval.
Man of the match Calum Robb made a searing break through centre midfield and when tackled just short of the line his inside pass found the ever-present Mooney on his shoulder and the back row star dived in under the posts.
Diffenthal's conversion ensured Wanderers 24-13 lead would be a mountain to climb for the visitors. So it proved as Wanderers kicked for territory in the second period using the elements to good effect. The hoped for avalanche of tries failed to materialise though due to an excellent rearguard action by Morgan who battled bravely to get back on terms.
The final score of the match came on 66 minutes, when Robb was first to react to loose ball bobbing around the visitors 22-metre line.
The Wanderers number eight fly hacked the ball into the Morgan in-goal area then won the foot chase to touch down in the corner. Diffenthal's conversion attempt from wide on the right was superbly struck to complete the scoring.
President Graeme Alexander said: "We felt we had a point to prove against Morgan who beat us earlier in the season so I'm obviously satisfied that we managed to even the score in that regard.
"We threw down the gauntlet to the players to make Fort Matilda a difficult place to come to and I'm glad to say they have responded with three good wins in a row at home.
"After a difficult start to the campaign we are building confidence and the winning mentality is an important part of that make-up.
"There is plenty of hard work ahead but we are developing nicely."
Wanderers take a break from league action next weekend when the Royal Bank of Scotland West Regional Cup gets under way.
Wanderers have a home tie against Premiership Two side Whitecraigs kicking off at the slightly earlier time of 1.30pm.
A full preview of the tie will appear in next Friday's Telegraph.
Wanderers: D Watson, S Connolly, L Tyley, K Smith, A Knox, K Diffenthal, A McDougall, D Paton, Y Young, M Lavelle, M Gray (C), M MacDonald, J Stewart, G Mooney, C Robb. Replacements: D Smith, S Alexander, M Duncan, J Smith.
Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor (UK) Ltd.
This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 05 Dec 11
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