Rugby: Adam hails thrilling run-in to title and asks for more

CURRIE skipper Andy Adam has used his club's second Scottish Hydro rugby premiership title in four seasons to call for an upgrade of the competition.

After helping Currie clinch the crown by twice coming from behind to defeat Glasgow Hawks 55-21 at Burnbrae, Adam said the atmosphere on the run-in had been electrifying and urged the authorities to create a play-off system where the league always culminates in tense, knock-out, ties.

"The crowd last week (against defending champions Ayr] were superb and so were the numbers who turned out today.

"Maybe the SRU should look at some sort of semi-final and final situation at the end of the season for the sake of the spectacle. It is what, as a player, I want to be involved in."

Despite the scoreline in what turned out to be an eight tries to three romp, Currie never came near to the heights they reached a week previously both in terms of intensity and quality.

That was inevitable because, once the fourth try bonus point to effectively seal the title was secured just before half-time, they got caught up in the excitement of the occasion and became loose and disjointed for long spells, although there were still plenty of moments when their superb support play shone through.

For Adam, one of a handful of players who were part of the 2007 success, the occasion was even better this time round – and understandably so.

"The last time we had to wait to learn that Hawks had beaten Ayr for us to be declared champions.

"This time we won it on the pitch and there were nerves on the bus travelling through because we knew that to slip up would mean Ayr going to Selkirk next week and whipping the title from under our noses. So, it went down to the wire and that in itself was very satisfying proving we could win in those circumstances.

"That, and the fact we added to successes by our seconds who got promotion and both the under-15 and under-18 teams who won Scottish titles making it an outstanding all-round season at Currie."

And club international Adam revealed that motivation had come from proving critics wrong.

"Our club atmosphere is really good (despite] a lot of stuff being written about us having foreign imports and high wage bills.

"Currie hasn't, and never has had, any money to spend.

"I don't know where these stories come from. Sour grapes? Why do people want to knock us?"

The message was that Currie had used what was perceived as misguided criticism to fuel their determination which was again in evidence on the Burnbrae pitch – which Hawks had borrowed since their own field was out of commission – from as early as the opening minute when winger Willie Moala sprinted clear for the opening touchdown.

There were a few anxious moments, notably when Hawks posted tries by Mike Adamson and Grant Strang on either side of an Andy Binikos strike to lead 14-12 after 25 minutes.

Adam admitted: "It was hot and they ran us about. Normally we control the game a lot better."

But in rallying Currie showed true spirit, summed up by Adam who said: "At times during the winter we had nowhere to train because of bad weather and one night we ended up shovelling snow from our pitch (for a work-out].

"Nobody moaned saying 'this has got nothing to do with rugby', no matter how easy it would have been, especially after our game the next weekend was cancelled anyway.

"Instead all the team brought wheelbarrows along and got stuck in which proved nobody gets ahead of themselves and certainly no prima donna attitudes are allowed."

In fact, it took a Johnny Smith penalty to finally settle Currie and, once in front, the outcome was decisively shaped in first half additional time as burly prop John Cox crashed over for two tries, firstly bulldozing winger Robbie Hair aside then showing a turn of pace to sprint in at the corner.

That second touchdown effectively ensured the title since, with the bonus increment in the bag, Ayr would have had to notch almost 300 points in their outstanding fixture.

Notwithstanding a 29-14 interval lead it took further tries from substitute James Johnstone, flanker Jamie Thomson and Moala, again, before the SRU felt comfortable about bringing the trophy into the ground to start preparing for the presentation ceremony. Meanwhile as perfectionist Currie coaches yelled "get some shape into your play" from the touchline, Robbie Hair scorched away for a thoroughly deserved try for Hawks before substitute Neil Scobie put the finishing touches to the win.

Even then there was still time for Binikos to further demonstrate Currie resilience with a brilliant tap tackle which denied Hair a try and Hawks a bonus point.

Currie's immediate reward is a clash with the touring Japan A side at Malleny Park later this month to allow them readiness for facing a Scotland side who, in turn, need a warm-up for a two-Test visit to Argentina.

For the moment Currie deserve a few days off before re-grouping to carry the banner for Scotland against the oriental visitors.

Considering Murrayfield bosses gambled by putting this crucial fixture in the charge of the unknown quantity that was a visiting exchange referee from England, they got away with it despite ref Steve Lee looking uncomfortable during the opening exchanges.

But how agreeable to see Scottish club rugby at least given the endorsement of an international-type fixture once again.

Scorers:

Glasgow: Tries: Adamson, Strang, Hair. Conversions: Adamson (2), Hair.Currie: Tries: Cox (2), Moala (2), Binikos, Thomson, Scobie, Johnstone. Conversions: Smith (6). Penalty: Smith.

Glasgow: M Adamson, R Hair, E Morrison, G Harkness, C Gossman, A White, P Jericevich, G Strain, J Maclay, N Cox, captain, G Hunter, C Harvey, M Whittleston, G Strang, R McKay. Subs: R Niven, C taylor, C Kerr, G McDonald, M Taylor..

Currie: J Smith, W Moala, C Kinloch, A Macmahon, D Fife, A Binikos, R Snedden, J Cox, A Walker, A Hamilton, R Wilson, A Adam, captain, M Cairns, R Weston, J Thomson. Subs: N Scobie, M Entwhistle, S Burton, G White, J Johnstone.