Rugby: Exhausted Heriot's sneak vital runners-up spot

Published on Wednesday 13 May 2009 09:57

EDINBURGH ACCIES skipper Greg Campbell insisted Heriot's would uphold Scottish club rugby honour alongside Ayr in the new British and Irish Cup next season following a 33-27 victory over these near neighbours in a Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership derby last night.

In a match switched to Lasswade because Accies' pitch was unplayable, both teams claimed four tries apiece which in Heriot's case was sufficient to ensure runners-up spot in the league, and Campbell's remarks reflected general satisfaction all round.

"I think the new competition is a great idea and both Heriot's and Ayr will do Scottish club rugby proud," said Campbell who couldn't conceal delight that his own team had shown skill and determination even with much less at stake.

"After being humiliated at Heriot's in a cup semi-final (8-50) last time out we were determined to beat them and one or two of our guys had a point to prove, among them Tom Drennan who should be going to Japan with the Scottish under-20s for the world championships this month."

Drennan showed class by angling his run to perfection for one of the Accies tries with others coming from Stewart Walker, Ed Stuart and Michael Campbell as Accies led 17-0 before conceding 27 successive points only to re-group towards the end when Euan Bonner came off the bench to seal the spoils with three penalties and a conversion.

Added Campbell: "If we had prevented Heriot's from getting the point they needed to finish runners-up (so that Boroughmuir went into the new competition instead) so be it, but our main focus was ourselves and I was pleased with the way we re-grouped.

"That said it's only fair to expect Heriot's to have been knackered from winning the Scottish Cup on Sunday, but after taking our foot off the pedal we came back well."

For Heriot's, a couple of shrewd tactical calls proved hugely influential in overcoming natural fatigue. The first came at 10-17 in first-half stoppage time when, with Accies powerhouse lock Ed Stuart in the sin-bin, Heriot's took the scrum option at a close-range penalty with the effect that Jamie Parker eventually crossed after a series of forward drives against the 14 men.

Turning round 15-17 adrift Heriot's showed more acumen on the restart by sending on the gigantic Wullie Blacklock at a defensive scrum and in repelling Accies they then moved up to the other end for two more touchdowns which guaranteed the all-important bonus point.

In fact, it was Blacklock who crashed over for the fourth try following on from others by Richie Mill and Dave McCall.

"I'm almost more proud of our guys for the guts they showed in getting themselves up for this challenge than I was with them winning the Cup just 48 hours earlier," said Heriot's coach Bob McKillop.

"Their bodies were hurting and at 0-17 we were looking as though we might be about to miss out on a competition that will be historic in that it is the first of its kind.

"I think they can be excused a few loose passes with the way they rallied and when the fourth try was scored that was when we knew it was mission accomplished.

"I'd rather Heriot's were making history than anybody else and as for player migrations, those who put us in the position we are in will form the core of the side that goes into the cross-border cup although I dare say players keen to prove themselves will take an extra interest in joining Heriot's." Everyone really was a winner at Lasswade and an added bonus for Heriot's was the emergence of young flanker Sandy McCutcheon who put in a power of work although the top individuals were mostly in opposition ranks.

Here burly forwards Ramin Mathieson and Ed Stuart, ably supported by Greg Campbell, bossed the breakdowns providing an ideal platform for Tom Drennan at No.8 and full back Tom Brown to excel; another notable being Colin Jarvis for some robust carries. It took Accies three minutes to open the scoring with a Mike Campbell try created by Andy Powell's surge and with Stewart Walker and Ed Stuart crossing in contrasting styles a 17-0 gap opened.

Back came Heriot's for Richie Mill to waltz through proving not all line-breaks were confined to Accies and Parker's follow-up plus kicks meant a 17-15 change around.

Heriot's led for the first time in 46 minutes when Andy Douglas created an overlap for McCall and when Blacklock went in soon after Accies looked buried at 17-27.

However, sub Bonner sparked the comeback with a penalty and converted Drennan's try before slotting two further three pointers as the club season ended in some style.

Scorers: Edinburgh Accies: Tries: Walker, M Campbell, Stuart, Drennan. Conversions: M Campbell, E Bonner. Penalties: E Bonner (3). Heriot's: Tries: McCall, Mill, Blacklock, Parker. Conversions: Wilson (2). Penalty: Wilson.

Edinburgh Accies: T Brown, C Dickie, I Berthinussen, A Powell, R Bonner, M Campbell, P Burns, D Cherry, R Mathieson, E Stuart, G Campbell (captain), C Jarvis, T Drennan, R Snape. Subs: J Pecquard, E Bonner, A Marsh, K Bobbie, R Lovett.

Heriot's: J Alston, A Douglas, D McCall, R Mill, C Goudie, O Brown, G Wilson, A Dymock, S Mustard, M Welch, M Reid, G Anderson, T McVie (captain), J Parker, A McCutcheon. Subs: D mason, W Blacklock, S Bell, G Rutherford, J Syme.