Spectators from both sides enjoyed an enthralling 80 minutes of rugby at Fort Matilda on Saturday as Greenock Wanderers came within a whisker of being the first team to defeat table toppers Whitecraigs this season.

A 40-point thriller was played out in front of an appreciative crowd who were on tenterhooks right to the last moments of the game.

For Wanderers it was a first rate performance from the entire squad as coaches Graham Finnie, Graham Knox and Ally Hunter rotated their side throughout the match to ensure fresh legs were always available to the Greenock side.

Up front skipper Ali Abernethy led by example and he was ably assisted by Matt Gray, Callum Robb and Andy Love. The Mooney brothers, Jamie and Graham, were always in the thick of the action and hooker Stewart Alexander ensured ball security with a crisp strike in the scrum and accurate throwing at the lineout.

Strike runners Brendan McGroarty and Kieren Smith were menacing when in possession and Michael Frizzell and David Watson, playing his last game for the club, caused the visitors' defence several anxious moments.

It was Wanderers who got off to a flying start on three minutes when vice-captain Brendan McGroarty finished off a flowing backs move by slicing through the Whitecraigs defence to touch down close to the posts. The conversion effort was missed, but the hosts remained in the ascendancy and increased their lead on the 17th minute from an Andy McDougall penalty which had been awarded after the visitors crept offside at a ruck.

Whitecraigs slowly forced their way back into the game with Greenock man Nicky Blamire prominent, particularly at the breakdown.

A series of penalties were awarded to the visitors as they piled on the pressure and on 32 minutes centre Ryan Moffat knocked over a fine effort from 40 yards out to reduce the deficit to 8-3 at the interval.

The second period was highly entertaining and flowed from end to end. Whitecraigs pulled out all the stops to get back on terms and on 48 minutes wing forward Craig Ferguson got the touchdown after a fine forward drive had taken play close to Wanderers line. Moffat obliged with the conversion to give the Newton Mearns side the lead 10-8.

On 54 minutes Whitecraigs extended their lead from another successful Moffat penalty as the onus now shifted to Wanderers to salvage the match. The Greenock men were fired up and seized the initiative with a sound rucking game that impressed the Fort Matilda crowd and put the visitors on the back foot.

On the hour mark Robb picked up from the base of the scrum about 30 yards out. He drove strongly deep into Whitecraigs territory and when the ball was quickly recycled McDougall released his back line to good effect and fans' favourite David Watson sped in at the corner through two despairing tackles. Frizzell was just short with the conversion attempt but having drawn level Wanderers had their tails up and looked the team most likely to go on and win the match.

With 10 minutes remaining Leigh Tyley produced a mesmerising run into the heart of the Whitecraigs defence. When tackled he recycled quick ball and McDougall once more spread the play wide. McGroarty had a tilt at the line but when stopped just short skipper Abernethy was there to collect the ball and squirm over for the touchdown. Frizzell made no mistake with the conversion and at 20-13 and time running out Wanderers could almost taste victory.

The visitors though are not top of the league for nothing and they launched wave after wave of attack in an effort to draw level. They forced another series of penalties close to Wanderers line and with the last play of the game replacement Blair Jardine squeezed in at the corner to take the score to 20-18, with only a conversion remaining.

The crowd fell into hushed silence as Moffat steadied himself for the kick and the Whitecraigs man showed he had nerves of steel as he tied the match with another unerring effort from wide on the right that perfectly bisected the uprights.

Assistant coach Graham Knox said: "We played well today although we are obviously disappointed at not managing to protect our lead. The players now believe in themselves and I thought we played a good solid rucking game which paid dividends for us. Our ball security was good and that gave us the opportunity to build the phases of play and make ground. We still have plenty of work to do but that was a good solid 80 minute performance"

Wanderers head up the M8 again next weekend when they travel to Braidholm in Clarkston to play Glasgow Hutchesons Aloysians.

Wanderers: L Tyley, D Watson, K Smith, B McGroarty, M Frizzell, C Harrison, A McDougall, D Paton, S Alexander, M Lavelle, M Gray, J Mooney, A Abernethy [C], A Love, C Robb. Replacements, L Campbell, M Coyle, G Mooney.

l Wanderers are sponsored by Texas Instruments.