Wanderers versus Preston Lodge at Pennypit Park
WIN 24 - 19 Saturday 23 January 2010(24 January 2010)
A relieved Greenock Wanderers party made the journey home from Prestonpans on Saturday evening having just managed to see off the challenge of hosts Preston lodge F.P at a muddy and bitterly cold Pennypit Park. For Wanderers this was a real scare and only a fine last quarter saw the locals overhaul a 10 point deficit and snatch the lead with only 2 minutes left on the clock.
One minute’s applause was the prequel to the match as all players and spectators paid tribute to Bill McLaren, the voice of rugby, who sadly passed away in the Borders during the week. When referee Alex Pratt got proceedings under way it was the East Lothian side that were quickest out of the blocks and took the game to the league leaders.
Greg Kinross knocked over an early penalty to give Preston Lodge a 3-0 lead. Wanderers responded immediately and forced some pressure and territorial advantage of their own and as the hosts struggled to repel the locals’ attacks a penalty was awarded some 22 metres out. Ant Devlin made no mistake with his opening salvo and levelled the scores with 10 minutes gone.
Goal kickers Ant Devlin and his counterpart Greg Kinross shared four more penalties as the first half drew to a close and with the score level on 9-9 at the interval there was all to play for in the second half. Once more it was Preston Lodge who started brightest and on 43 minutes lock forward Alan Blair found himself in space some 20 metres out and he crashed over under the posts. Kinross chipped home from the tee and the hosts had seized the initiative and the lead 16-9.
Worse was to follow 10 minutes later as a further penalty was conceded inside the Preston Lodge half. Indiscipline and back chat followed resulting in referee Pratt marching the Wanderers side back a further 20 metres which put the kick now well in range for Kinross. He accepted the gift to extend the hosts lead to 19-9. With the alarm bells ringing and only 20 minutes remaining Wanderers were staring defeat in the face.
Skipper David Watson exhorted his troops to a greater effort and as Wanderers chased the game it was Kieren Smith who made the breakthrough, cutting a fine angle through the midfield channels and touching down under the posts. Devlin knocked over the conversion but at 19-16 Wanderers were still behind. The self belief that comes with successful teams thereafter took a hand. Preston Lodge became nervous and edgy whereas Greenock seemed intent on saving the match. With 8 minutes left Ant Devlin once more knocked over a penalty to level the scores 19-19 and Wanderers now went for the jugular.
As the game entered the final stages Sean Connolly kicked into the hosts half and as winger Guiney failed to collect Connolly who had followed up his own kick continued to kick ahead into the in goal area. A foot chase followed with Connolly winning the sprint to touch down and snatch the victory for Wanderers 24-19.
President Dougie Sloan said, “We played poorly today but I was delighted with the never say die attitude of the players and it shows real determination to succeed when we came back from 19-9.That attitude will stand us in good stead for our remaining matches”
Next up for Wanderers is the visit of Newton Stewart to Fort Matilda next Saturday as the locals continue in their quest to win their first league title since 2002.
Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.
| Saturday, 23 January 2010 | |||||||||||
| 14:00 |  |
Preston Lodge | 19 | : | 24 |  |
Greenock Wand | ||||
| 14:00 |  |
Newton Stewart | 22 | : | 12 | |
Cambuslang | ||||
| 14:00 | |
Caithness | 3 | : | 41 |  |
Lasswade | ||||
| 14:00 |  |
Highland | 9 | : | 0 | |
Kilmarnock | ||||
| 14:00 |  |
Hawick YM | 33 | : | 24 | |
Waysiders | ||||
| 14:00 |  |
Glasgow Accies | 48 | : | 0 | |
Stewartry | ||||
League Table
| Position | Team | Played | W | D | L | F : A | Diff. | Bonus | Points | |||
| 1 | |
Greenock Wanderers RFC | 17 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 584:162 | 422 | 10 | 74 | ||
| 2 | |
Glasgow Academicals RFC | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 416:215 | 201 | 11 | 55 | ||
| 3 | |
Lasswade RFC | 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 505:133 | 372 | 11 | 51 | ||
| 4 | |
Kilmarnock RFC | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 331:246 | 85 | 8 | 44 | ||
| 5 | |
Caithness RFC | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 342:336 | 6 | 8 | 40 | ||
| 6 | |
Highland RFC | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 229:226 | 3 | 5 | 39 | ||
| 7 | |
Waysiders Drumpellier RFC | 15 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 243:289 | -46 | 6 | 34 | ||
| 8 | |
Hawick YM RFC | 15 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 275:277 | -2 | 7 | 31 | ||
| 9 | |
Newton Stewart RFC | 14 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 185:280 | -95 | 3 | 27 | ||
| 10 | |
Preston Lodge RFC | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 171:411 | -240 | 4 | 22 | ||
| 11 | |
Stewartry RFC | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 151:488 | -337 | 3 | 15 | ||
| 12 | |
Cambuslang RFC | 15 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 173:542 | -369 | 1 | 13 | ||
Wanderers versus Preston Lodge at Pennypit Park was posted by GWRFC.
To discuss any of its subject matter further please contact Greenock Wanderers RFC
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