More last gasp agony for Perthshire rugby players

Sep 25 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire 18

Hamilton 20

FOR the second successive week, Shire players and supporters had to endure the agony of being beaten by a last-minute score after looking as though they would secure victory.

From the minute they kicked off, Hamilton's forwards were all over Shire and the Perth boys endured a torrid first 15 minutes as Hamilton threw everything at them.

Ross Inglis carved through Shire's defence in three minutes and it was one-way traffic for a while after that and only brilliant defending by the Eagles prevented further scores.

Although the forwards were having a tough time in the scrum, they gradually clawed their way back into the game and the referee ignored advantage when he blew for another penalty just as Assenti sped clear up the field.

Matson converted and Shire regrouped with much more determination. Some of the home tackling was fierce and Hamilton had all their front row players off getting treatment on one occasion.

Matson was just wide again with a 45-metre attempted penalty and Hamilton were being pushed into conceding more penalties and this time Shire kicked to touch.

Pattinson took clean ball and it was spun out to Assenti who scored a superb try to give Shire the lead. But, fiver minutes later, McLeish kicked Hamilton back into the lead with a fine penalty. H/T 8-10.

Hamilton's South African scrum-half Ronald Strykom proved a real handful although Bloice was up to the task throughout most of the match.

Shire battled back into the game and Dom O'Connor scored to take his team back into the lead. However, Strykom managed to lose his markers for once and scored a marvellous individual try which allowed Hamilton to regain the lead for the third time.

Shire came straight back and almost scored but the referee said the ball was held up over the line.

Shire were now looking the stronger team and some lively rucking saw them win the ball and the young winger, with a great future ahead of him, Andy Whitelaw, raced in at the corner to put Shire into the lead again.

With five minutes to go, Shire just had to hang on to the lead but Hamilton never gave up and pressed hard on Shire's line to win a penalty and Coull got his marching orders from the referee.

Down to 14 men and trying desperately to hang on to their slender advantage, Shire's forwards gave their all against superior numbers and size but they eventually creaked and Coutts barged over for the winning score which sent the four points west.

Shire have lost several top quality players this season and it is easy to say that had they been playing they could have been top of the league now.

But the fact remains that these players have moved on and the present Shire team has passion, commitment, guts and skill in equal measure – and the wins will come.

Wayne Matson needs to regain full fitness after his injury and he should be a huge influence on the game.

Tomorrow, the Eagles travel to Falkirk who will still be smarting after Shire virtually ruined their chances of promotion last season – and they top the league at the moment.

This should be an epic encounter and the players will be delighted to see as many supporters as possible. All players and supporters must be at the clubhouse for 12.45, leaving at 1pm.

Shire's reserves put up their best show of the season and led second-place Hamilton 21-0 at half-time.

However, they had to give up players to the 1st XV in the second-half and Hamilton came back strongly to win by a hotly-disputed try.

Coach Bob Ock was highly impressed by all his team and thanked Derek Busby and Andy Henderson for releasing players so that the game could go ahead.

Tomorrow, Shire take on the green machine of Hawick. More players are urgently needed and even if you can't train regularly but want to come back and play a very reasonable standard of rugby, please give us a try.