Heriot’s 17-17 Currie: Hosts’ title hopes dented
Scorers: Heriot’s: Tries: Hidalgo-Clyne, Ferguson, Carmichael. Con: Wilson. Currie: Tries: Cherry, Horne. Pen: Horne. Cons: Horne 2.
After their heavy home loss to Gala at the end of October, Currie’s chances of remaining in the top ten seemed very slim but, since then, they are unbeaten in all competitions.
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At Goldenacre at the weekend they were 10-0 up after 39 minutes and, given the amount of possession they had enjoyed, they really should have been more points to the good. Then a moment of individual skill by Heriot’s full-back Sam Hidalgo-Clyne changed the game, his try getting the hosts out of second gear for the first time and back into the match.
After the interval, Heriot’s brought on former skipper Graham Wilson to play stand-off and had more attacking threat.
At the whistle, in the descending gloom, a draw was probably about right, but Currie skipper Cairns said: “It is disappointing but I guess, in a way, that shows how far we have come as a team in recent months. I thought we played well, there were just a few things we could have done better but, overall, getting some points from Goldenacre is always a tough thing to do.”
Currie lost prop Ali Hamilton to injury after just three minutes but the pack provided a good platform and, in the 14th minute, full-back George Horne’s penalty put them 3-0 up. Hooker Cherry then ran in for a try from 25 metres in the 31st minute after a wayward Heriot’s lineout. Horne converted before Hidalgo-Clyne’s score. In the second half, with Hidalgo-Clyne now at scrum-half and Sean Kennedy at full-back, Heriot’s probed, but Currie went 17-5 up. That came through a converted try by Horne before Heriot’s, whose title challenge is fading, came back with two tries in the last 18 minutes.
Cameron Ferguson and Rory Carmichael got them with Wilson converting the latter’s score with three minutes to go.
Heriot’s: S Hidalgo-Clyne; C Goudie, K Buchan, C Ferguson, M Nimmo; R Carmichael, S Kennedy; N Borel, G Turner, G Cameron, M Douglas, R Nimmo, M Maltman, J Turley, A Henderson. Subs used: S Mustard, C Mulligan, G Wilson.
Currie: G Horne; H Elms, R Smith, A Alexander, M Peacock; J Semple, R Snedden; J Cox, D Cherry, A Hamilton, G Temple, P Neacsu, M Vernal, R Weston, M Cairns. Subs used: S McInally, G Carson.
Referee: J Matthew.
THE SCOTSMAN RUGBY SHOW IN ASSOCIATION WITH GINGER GROUSE