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| ANOTHER BONUS POINT GAME HILLHEAD/JORDANHILL 11pts BIGGAR 18pts In a game full of honest endeavour, “Hills” matched their opponents from the top of Premier 2 for the full 80 minutes, but once again fell agonisingly short of recording their first league win in 2007/8. Biggar recorded a victory by one goal, one try and two penalty goals to one try and two penalty goals under gloomy November skies. Their margin of victory was considerably smaller, however, than the September 62-0 rout at Hartreemill. Yet, the omens for a shock “Hills” victory looked good when, after only five minutes, “Hills” most consistent player on the day, Stuart Ross, picked up a loose ball which had squirted out of a loose ruck on the home ten metre line to scamper his way unchallenged to the Biggar end to score. Stewart Torbett missed the kick, but “Hills” were full of energy and proving a handful for their opponents at scrum and line-out. But line breaks were as elusive as sunlight on this dreich day, and it was left to full back, Andrew Eggleton, to run back Biggar ball to try to generate some momentum to the home attacks. Biggar finally opened the scoring with a penalty, but this was only a temporary setback for “Hills” who continued to shade the frontal exchanges. Further “Hills” pressure led to a Torbett penalty goal, but towards half time, Biggar, principally through former Hughenden favourite, Sam Muir, began to exert pressure. Successive phases were won in the home twenty two, and a clever switch from the scrum half to the open side exposed “Hills” defence. An overlap presented Parker with a scoring opportunity which he took, but the conversion failed, leaving the half time score tied at 8 pts all. The visitors began the second half better and soon added a Parker penalty goal, but then the “Hills” upped their efforts. Biggar lost a man to the “bin”, but “Hills”, as the in Rubislaw fixture, failed to capitalise. Torbett took the opportunity to level the scores by converting a penalty chance from 35 metres, and the game then entered the final and decisive quarter. Although it was fairly dour stuff, there was little in it between the sides, except when the Biggar stand off determined to run the ball to reveal the latent threat of the Fijian inside centre outside him. The clinching score, when it came, owed everything to Biggar’s quick thinking in running a wayward clearance kick back to the danger area where “Hills” defence was thin, and Junior Sifa with a very balanced run in scored a fine try. This was converted to take the opposition seven points ahead. “Hills” collective spirit did not desert them and the final ten minutes were played in the Biggar twenty two. But while there was enormous effort and application, particularly through the scrummaging of the front row, the essential poise required to score in these frantic situations was absent. Mention must be made, however, of the Biggar “smuggler”, Eady Manawaiti who was a constant thorn in the home side with his innate ability to pirate precious “Hills” ball, at times at will, and who did more than anyone to deny “Hills” even a share of the points. This was the fifth home game where the “Hills” had to content themselves with a losing bonus point. Spirits, however remain high. “Hills” head coach, Keith Robertson, noted : “ Some of our work was at times exceptional. Although I am gutted with the final outcome, I am delighted with the effort of all the players out there to-day. The boys are all training well, and I am sure our first victory is not far away.” Hills 1st XV – Andrew Eggleton , Angus Twaddle , David Paterson , Will Marshall, David Mitchell, Cameron McCulloch, Stuart Torbett, Gavin Blackburn , Ewen Weir , Nick McAulay, Stuart Rose, Jamie Howarth , Stuart Ross, Cammy Kerr ( C ) and Douglas Crichton ( Douglas Crichton ) . Subs. Steven Longwell, Ally Moffat, Kyle Bennie |
