Wanderers bounce back

Published 14 Dec 2009 14:00

WANDERERS 58

CAMBUSLANG 5

GREENOCK Wanderers got back to winning ways with a 10-try demolition job on a plucky Cambuslang side at Fort Matilda on Saturday.

For Wanderers it was the perfect riposte, after losing their first game of the season a fortnight ago at Lasswade, and reinforced their position as champions-elect.

Wanderers dominated the match, with the forwards securing a major share of possession and driving back the visitors' pack mercilessly throughout the 80 minutes.

Pack leader Matt Gray enjoyed another first class match and he was ably supported by Dougie Smith, Ali Abernethy and Callum Robb who all caught the eye.

The back line also produced some thrilling moments with man of the match Kieren Smith, centre partner David Murray and skipper David Watson all carving fine angles through the visitors' rearguard at regular intervals.

The locals went on the offensive straight from kick-off and, in nine minutes, what appeared a good try by Sean Connolly was chalked off for a foot in touch just before the youngster touched down.

This merely delayed the inevitable as two minutes later skipper 'Cheesy' Watson touched down in the corner to finish off the first of many flowing backs moves throughout the afternoon.

On the quarter hour mark Kieren Smith burst through the centre and popped a neat pass to David Murray to cruise in under the posts.

Five minutes later that man Smith again set off on a fine angled crossfield run before switching play with a neat pass inside to Leigh Tyley to cross for Wanderers' third try of the match.

Stand-off Ant Devlin converted on this occasion and, with 20 minutes gone, the locals were 17-0 ahead.

Play thereafter became a little bogged down in midfield as the visitors defended bravely. On the stroke of half-time, however, the win bonus was assured when Kieren Smith once more took possession 30 yards out and cut through the Cambuslang defence with a fine run.

He knocked aside a despairing last ditch tackle before dotting down in the corner.

Cambuslang kicked off the second half and enjoyed a period of pressure and territorial advantage of their own. In 45 minutes scrum ball was won and several forward breenges at the line were repelled by Wanderers before winger Graham Nicol found himself in space and he dived in at the corner to reduce the deficit to 22-5.

Thereafter normal service resumed. In 50 minutes Kieren Smith took advantage of some dithering in the Cambuslang defence and touched down to increase the lead to 27-5 and, four minutes later, skipper Watson scored a fine solo try, meandering through the visitors' back line with a mazy run. Kieren Smith converted and the match was effectively over as a contest at 34-5.

Just after the hour mark Watson and David Murray cut through the Cambuslang defence for youngster Gregor Fletcher to get on the score sheet and, in 70 minutes, a fine solo effort from Murray himself extended Wanderers' lead to 44-5.

With dusk settling and the light getting poor, second row Matt Duncan notched a score for the forwards after a great drive from a lineout.

As the game entered injury time Sean Connolly capped another fine personal performance with a jinking run which took him through the visitors' defensive line and under the posts. Kieren Smith chipped over from the tee to complete the scoring 58-5.

President Dougie Sloan said: "It was a satisfactory performance and we now look forward to another big match next Saturday against promotion rivals Glasgow Academicals.

"It was important to settle ourselves and get back to basics and I thought many of the passages of play were very good today.

"Again we always look to improve and it will be an important week of preparation before next weekend's big game"

Wanderers: S Connolly; D Watson (captain), D Murray, K Smith, L Tyley; A Devlin, A McDougall; D Smith, R Lavelle, M Lavelle; M Gray, M Duncan; A Love, A Abernethy, C Robb.

Replacements: J McArthur, G Fletcher, J Stewart (all used).

● Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 14 Dec 09

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