Edinburgh Accies 19 - 40 Dundee HSFP: Injury-hit Accies face test of nerve over relegation threat

Published on Sunday 21 February 2010 23:29

WITH three matches remaining and formidable opposition to play, Edinburgh Accies face an anxious countdown to the end of this season's protracted Scottish Hydro Premiership.

Accies play Hawks at Old Anniesland next Friday, Melrose away on 6 March and finish their programme against Heriot's at home two weeks later. One win or even three losers' bonus points might do the trick but they are now firmly in a dog-fight with fellow strugglers Watsonians, Selkirk and Boroughmuir to avoid the trap door.

Compounding Accies' difficulties are an extensive injury list and the unavailability of their Scotland Under-20 stand-off, Alex Blair. "We are missing ten of our first-choice players," said Accies coach Ian Barnes.

By contrast, Dundee HSFP boasted a full-strength squad for Saturday's game at Raeburn Place and celebrated with a joyous display of dynamic rugby that brought them a six-try tally. Crucial to their form is the return of their talented stand-off, Cammy Ferguson, playing only his second game since returning from a long injury-enforced lay-off.

"Cammy attacks from a flat alignment and creates space out wide," said coach Ian Rankin, pleased that his side had finally achieved a win over their bogey team. "We buried our fear by playing with confidence even though we struggled to get continuity in the first-half."

Once Dundee established their rhythm they were unstoppable, with clever running from full-back James Fleming, centre Harry Duthie, and No 8 Danny Levison. Sadly for Duthie, his game ended five minutes before full time after sustaining a neck injury that required the centre to be put in a stretcher brace and subsequent hospital examination.

Winger Ross Lemon gave Dundee early points with a try converted by Fleming, but Accies hit back with a penalty by stand-off Ruaridh Bonner and a try from their Scotland sevens cap Matt Coupar to give home side a 8-7 interval advantage.

Accies went further ahead with a penalty from former Hawick star Gavin Douglas, but then Dundee took control of the game as Duthie made the running for a Ferguson try before Fleming showed his pace by igniting and them finishing a scoring move.

A second Douglas penalty kept Accies in touch but not for long as hooker James Clark dummied his way through for a try under the posts, Lemon ran in his second score and then Levison accepted an interception pass.

Accies, however, awarded themselves some consolation with a Tom Drennan try on the whistle.

Scorers: Edinburgh Accies: Tries: Coupar, Drennan. Pens: Bonner, Douglas (2).

Dundee HSFP: Tries Lemon (2), Ferguson, Fleming, Clark, Levison, Cons Fleming (5).

Edinburgh Accies: S Moffat; D Rattray, G Douglas, R Browne, M Coupar; R Bonner, C Martin; S Patience, D Cherry, C Murray, E Stuart, G Campbell, R Snape, T Drennan, D Teague. Subs J Henderson, O Powell, P Jenkinson, D O'Hagen, S Atkins.

Dundee HSFP: J Fleming; M Smith, H Duthie, L Graham, R Lemon; C Ferguson, A Dymock; N Dymock, J Clark, A Brown, C Cumming, R Hawkins, S McKee, G Ryan, D Levison. Subs: D Russell, D Young, R Cessford, A Horton, S Dryer.

Referee: C Rudkin.