GREENOCK Wanderers hopes of securing their second win of the season were dashed at Woodside on Saturday when a strong Aberdeenshire side took the spoils and recorded their first win this term in the BT National League Second Division.

It was a cruel defeat for the locals who posted probably their best performance of the season but paradoxically the result means that they now drop into the relegation zone alongside bottom club Haddington.

There is still a long way to go in this campaign and if Wanderers can harness the spirit they showed at Woodside on Saturday then they should be able to battle back and ensure their continued presence in the third tier of Scottish rugby next season.

For Greenock, skipper Murray MacDonald, top right, gave his all and produced another powerful display from the base of the scrum. Prop forwards Ryan McGhee and Dougie Smith excelled in the tight forward exchanges and showed up well in making the hard yards around the contact zone and Leigh Tyley, bottom right, and Andy McDougall were the danger men in Wanderers’ back line.

Youngster Callum Harrison also tackled strongly in central midfield, which has been a problem area for the locals this season — and veteran Kenny Diffenthal gave his usual accomplished display with the boot.

The match started with a flurry of penalties and within the opening quarter goal-kickers, Adam Blake for the hosts and Diffenthal for the visitors, had cancelled each other out with two successful kicks apiece.

Around the half hour mark Wanderers began to exert some pressure and enjoyed a period of possession and territorial advantage.

On 38 minutes the locals were awarded a scrummage ten metres from the Aberdeenshire line.

Scrum-half McDougall launched an attack and picked up at the base of the scrum and sniped round the blind side. He fed Ally Abernethy who in turn slipped a neat pass to support runner Alan McMichael, who drove over for the touchdown. Diffenthal’s conversion gave Wanderers an 11-6 advantage.

With half-time looming the hosts were eager to get back on terms and straight from the restart they secured possession and carefully went through the phases. With the Greenock defence stretched, scrum-half Scott Simpson spread the play and right winger Steven Murchie sped in at the corner.

Wanderers though were gifted an immediate chance to reply when straight from kick-off the Aberdeenshire backs were penalised for crossing in front of the ball carrier. Diffenthal gratefully accepted the three points to give the locals a slender 16-11 lead at the interval.

The second period started poorly for Wanderers. On 42 minutes Blake’s prowess with the boot was evident once more when a penalty was awarded after a Wanderers’ tackler failed to roll away at the breakdown. Five minutes later a poor defensive kick into midfield from the locals was pounced upon by an eager Aberdeenshire back line. They went on the offensive and created space down the left flank for winger Ian Redmond to breeze in at the corner. Blake converted to put his side into a 19-16 lead.

The match developed into an entertaining ‘ding-dong’ affair and it was Wanderers who drew level on 50 minutes when Diffenthal slotted another penalty opportunity after the ‘Dons’ were penalised for a handling offence in the ruck.

With half an hour to go it was all to play for and the seminal moment of the match came seven minutes later.

Wanderers had the feed at a scrummage thirty metres from their own goal line but inexplicably Aberdeenshire hooker Callum Taylor took the heel against the head and secured possession for his own side.

Open side flanker Matthew Emmison needed no second invitation and he seized possession and was up and out of the blocks, blasting over unopposed to dot down close to the posts. Blake added the conversion points to give the hosts a seven point lead.

Amazingly yet again straight from the restart Aberdeenshire handed Wanderers a lifeline when they strayed offside at the kick-off. Diffenthal’s penalty reduced the deficit to 26-22.

A tense finish was expected and the teams did not disappoint. On 72 minutes Wanderers had possession and were building some pressure when a handling error gifted the ball to Aberdeenshire. The hosts struck quickly and put the turnover possession to good use by engineering a break incorporating both forwards and backs.

With the Greenock defence in disarray, flanker Ben Frazer was on hand to touch down and secure the try-scoring bonus point for the ‘Dons’. Blake’s conversion stretched the lead to 33-22.

In the closing minutes Wanderers pressed for more points and received just reward for their efforts when they were awarded a penalty try after the home pack collapsed the scrum as it appeared the locals were about to score. Diffenthal’s conversion completed the scoring and ensured Wanderers got a league point for losing by less than eight points.

Wanderers are sponsored by Texas Instruments.