Shire defence is split at the start

Apr 3 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Hillhead/Jordanhill 55

Perthshire 5

THIS crucial match was billed as a cup final.

Hillhead had to win it to remain favourites for promotion, while Shire needed the points to ensure their survival in Premier Three.

Unfortunately, the home side’s desire to win was far greater than any motivation the Eagles had the game was won during the first half-hour after Hillhead scored four tries without reply.

The game was barely two minutes old before a dazzling move involving most of the Hillhead players split open the Shire defence for the opening score.

Tries came at regular intervals thereafter as Hillhead displayed a compelling brand of 15-man rugby, with their forwards showing great determination to win almost every ball they competed for.

Perthshire’s backs and forwards regularly had two or three men running at them with pace and could do little to prevent the onslaught.

Gus Twaddle, Hillhead’s usually reliable kicker, was thankfully having an off day and Shire were still in with a chance at half-time despite falling behind by 22 points to nil.

However, any hope of this was dashed when Hillhead finished off a 15-man move to re-start their scoring, followed by another try shortly after.

After scoring six tries, Hillhead took their foot off the pedal and Shire won themselves huge amounts of possession.

But it was slow, with their far too static backs taking the ball standing still and gaining no momentum.

For 20 minutes Shire were camped in home territory but could make no impression against a resolute defence although Keir Doe managed to squeeze over for Shire’s consolation try.

Unfortunately, instead of signalling a fight-back, this merely spurred Hillhead on and three tries in the last 10 minutes against a tiring Shire team sealed a well-merited victory for the Glasgow outfit.

Now either Hillhead or Dunfermline will be progressing to Premier Two next Saturday.

Shire are equally as good if not better than Dunfermline and they outplayed Hillhead at Perth earlier on in the season. So why is the team struggling near the bottom of the league?

Thankfully, because of results elsewhere in the league, Shire won’t be relegated but the coaches must use the remaining games to restore some pride and passion.

To complete a bleak day for Perthshire, the 2nd XV were beaten by a similar margin as Hillhead 2nd XV gained promotion to the First Division of the 2nd XV league.

Tomorrow the Eagles will play a friendly against a Dundee HSFP team at Perth, kicking-off at 2pm.

The following week both firsts and seconds will travel to Garnock where they will hopefully find the winning habit again.