Wanderers near Murrayfield dream

Published 29 Mar 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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PLOUGHING THROUGH: Wanderers in action.

GREENOCK Wanderers took another step closer to a possible appearance at Murrayfield.

A good second-half showing was the difference between the sides as they successfully negotiated a difficult Scottish Hydro-Electric Shield Quarter Final tie against First Division side Annan at Fort Matilda on Saturday.

But it was the visitors who seized the early initiative and put Wanderers under pressure from the start. In four minutes their pressure turned to points with an early penalty opportunity awarded for offside against the Wanderers back line.

Stand off James Bigham made no mistake and drew first blood for Annan. As the half progressed the locals put some decent passages of play together but the visitors used the elements to their advantage and several lengthy punts down field kept Wanderers pinned back.

On the half-hour mark though, a fine break and kick ahead out of defence by Ant Devlin took play deep into the Annan half and Callum Robb was on hand to take the try-scoring pass from Devlin after he collected his own kick. Robb brushed aside two tacklers on his way over the line to put Wanderers ahead 5-3.

In 55 minutes the locals were awarded a penalty wide on the left after the Annan forwards prevented fair release at a ruck and Devlin slotted off the post to extend Wanderers lead to 8-3.

Five minutes later Devlin again got on the end of a crisp handling move across the back line and cut through the visitors defence to touch down under the posts. He added the conversion points and at 15-3 Wanderers now had the initiative and looked good value to add to their tally.

Further scores followed, and on 68 minutes the returning Graham Mooney, home on leave from the RAF, flew in at the corner to touch down after the Wanderers back line created the extra man. Devlin again converted from wide on the right to increase the lead to 22-3 and effectively kill the game as a contest.

Wanderers had not finished yet though and their back line found their rhythm and threatened the Annan line each time they had possession. On 72 minutes another fine handling move across the three quarter line gave Leigh Tyley the opportunity to show his pace and he left two defenders trailing in his wake as he touched down in the corner to make the score 27-3.

The last word went to man of the match Ant Devlin and he rounded off proceedings in the 78th minute with a fine solo try after an angled run through the heart of the Annan defence. He knocked over the conversion to complete the scoring at 34-3.

Coach Dave McVey said: "Our second half display was a lot better and we put together some good phases of play. We were a little bit off colour today but we done enough to get the job done. Next week's game will be a big step up and we shall have to lift our performance levels accordingly."

Greenock Wanderers have been drawn at home next Saturday in the semi-final of the Scottish Hydro-Electric Shield against First Divison leaders Dalziel. The game kicks off at 3pm and the winners will meet either Lasswade or Whitecraigs in the Final at Murrayfield on Saturday 24th April.

President Dougie Sloan said: "We are delighted to get a home draw and it will be a tough match against the champions-elect of the First Division. I hope the local rugby-supporting public will get behind us and as many people as possible come along to support the team."

l Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd

Wanderers: D Watson (c), L Tyley, K Smith, D Murray, G Fletcher, A Devlin, A McDougall, M Lavelle, A McMichael, J McArthur, M Gray, A Abernethy, J Stewart, M Duncan, C Robb, Replacements; G Finnie, G Mooney, S Connolly

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 29 Mar 10

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