1st XV - Report
Date: Saturday 8th December 2012 - Kick Off: 14:00
RBS East league - Division 1
| Preston Lodge | 41 | vs | 12 | Berwick |
Heavy Weather and 6 Try Stroll for PL
A wee bit rusty and a wee bit cold but PL beat the elements to come out on top against Berwick
It’s been four weeks since Preston Lodge had last played so despite their own Pennypit pitch being waterlogged, Head Coach Craig McGeary was glad to have the game go ahead at Meadowmill on Saturday – one of only five played in Scotland.
Recent meetings between the sides have shown that Berwick are a tough team to break down and are always dangerous with the ball in hand and so it proved in the early exchanges when the visitors looked the more likely to score with most of the play taking place inside the PL 22. Gradually though, the PL pack were starting to gain control up front with scott rodgers and Jonathan Brash catching the eye as they battled to win ball in the loose. It took until the 12th minute before decent territory was gained and the ball was finally out of the PL danger zone and Andrew Clark was in no mood to waste the opportunity when he received quick ball from Peter Johnstone and a shrewd dummy by the stand off was enough to wrong foot the defence allowing him to burst through and score a brilliant solo try. Graeme Patterson made sure of the conversion to make the score 7-0 and he was on target again just a few minutes later after Berwick were guilty of breaking the bind in the scrum and despite a difficult breeze, his kick sailed between the posts from some distance.
The freezing conditions did nothing to help the handling skills of either side but Berwick didn’t help themselves by kicking the ball away too often and PL committed too many errors in the loose. The game however was entertaining enough for the home supporters and it got better in the 24th minute when once again Clark’s skills were far too cute for Berwick’s midfield defence and a quick show and go saw him clean through but this time he had Paul Glynn at his shoulder and he took the scoring pass before touching down under the posts. Patterson was on target again to make the score 17-0.
PL now seemed in control although the Berwick defence was pretty strong despite being under constant attack from Guiney, Monks and especially Blair Robertson in the centre. But the third try came through the tried and tested route as Patterson sent a penalty to touch in the corner and Blair Cowan and Bruce Stoddart gathered and protected the ball before it was recycled through the phases allowing Paul Voy to finish things off near the corner. Patterson’s kept up his 100% record for the half, and his conversion made the score 24-0 at the break.
Being three quarters of the way to a try scoring bonus point, it might have been expected that it would be a routine matter for PL to go on and complete the job with ease, but the next 30 minutes were going to be a challenge of both resolve and patience for the home side. The referee was interpreting some of the laws in a different fashion to the players on both sides which meant that the penalty count rose dramatically. Unfortunately, frustration crept in and this resulted in PL having both Blair Cowan and Pete Johnstone cooling their jets in the sin bin within the same 10 minute period. Berwick were too good to miss this chance with a numerical advantage and put the free ball from the penalties to good use by continually kicking to touch well inside the 22. The pressure was too great and scrum half James Patterson, who was having a great game, made the most of the opportunities by grabbing two tries for himself. Gareth Hill was able to convert one of them to narrow the gap to 24-12 and Berwick were definitely in the hunt to earn themselves at least a losing bonus point.
However, once they were restored to their full complement of players, composure was regained and PL would close out the game in style. The pack knuckled down to the task in hand with Raymond Mackie and Chris Dixon raising their game to cause all sorts of problems for the defence. Loose clearance kicks were repaid with interest as Lewis King and Blair Robertson charged forwards until eventually the pressure proved too much for the beleaguered Berwick defence. A long penalty was sent into the 22 by Patterson and the ubiquitous Paul Voy touched down after several players had had their hands on the ball.
Then, another loose clearance kick out of defence was gathered by Rory Monks on half way and he charged forward before passing to Raymond Mackie who was unstoppable at top speed and Patterson’s conversion in tricky conditions topped off a great try. The scoring was completed at 41-12 in the final minute as the Berwick scrum was creaking under pressure and there was nothing they could do to stop Paul Voy notching up his hat-trick.
So a difficult game in equally difficult conditions was safely negotiated and the bonus point secured but with important game time under their belts, PL will travel to Barnton with some confidence to play RHC Cougars next Saturday. KO 2pm.
Preston Lodge Team:
G Patterson, L King, B Robertson, P Glynn, C Guiney, A Clark, P Johnstone
S Rodgers, S McLean, K Duncan, B Cowan, B Stoddart, J Brash, C Dixon, P Voy
Replacements:
L King, A Archer, R Mackie, J Sked
Recent meetings between the sides have shown that Berwick are a tough team to break down and are always dangerous with the ball in hand and so it proved in the early exchanges when the visitors looked the more likely to score with most of the play taking place inside the PL 22. Gradually though, the PL pack were starting to gain control up front with scott rodgers and Jonathan Brash catching the eye as they battled to win ball in the loose. It took until the 12th minute before decent territory was gained and the ball was finally out of the PL danger zone and Andrew Clark was in no mood to waste the opportunity when he received quick ball from Peter Johnstone and a shrewd dummy by the stand off was enough to wrong foot the defence allowing him to burst through and score a brilliant solo try. Graeme Patterson made sure of the conversion to make the score 7-0 and he was on target again just a few minutes later after Berwick were guilty of breaking the bind in the scrum and despite a difficult breeze, his kick sailed between the posts from some distance.
The freezing conditions did nothing to help the handling skills of either side but Berwick didn’t help themselves by kicking the ball away too often and PL committed too many errors in the loose. The game however was entertaining enough for the home supporters and it got better in the 24th minute when once again Clark’s skills were far too cute for Berwick’s midfield defence and a quick show and go saw him clean through but this time he had Paul Glynn at his shoulder and he took the scoring pass before touching down under the posts. Patterson was on target again to make the score 17-0.
PL now seemed in control although the Berwick defence was pretty strong despite being under constant attack from Guiney, Monks and especially Blair Robertson in the centre. But the third try came through the tried and tested route as Patterson sent a penalty to touch in the corner and Blair Cowan and Bruce Stoddart gathered and protected the ball before it was recycled through the phases allowing Paul Voy to finish things off near the corner. Patterson’s kept up his 100% record for the half, and his conversion made the score 24-0 at the break.
Being three quarters of the way to a try scoring bonus point, it might have been expected that it would be a routine matter for PL to go on and complete the job with ease, but the next 30 minutes were going to be a challenge of both resolve and patience for the home side. The referee was interpreting some of the laws in a different fashion to the players on both sides which meant that the penalty count rose dramatically. Unfortunately, frustration crept in and this resulted in PL having both Blair Cowan and Pete Johnstone cooling their jets in the sin bin within the same 10 minute period. Berwick were too good to miss this chance with a numerical advantage and put the free ball from the penalties to good use by continually kicking to touch well inside the 22. The pressure was too great and scrum half James Patterson, who was having a great game, made the most of the opportunities by grabbing two tries for himself. Gareth Hill was able to convert one of them to narrow the gap to 24-12 and Berwick were definitely in the hunt to earn themselves at least a losing bonus point.
However, once they were restored to their full complement of players, composure was regained and PL would close out the game in style. The pack knuckled down to the task in hand with Raymond Mackie and Chris Dixon raising their game to cause all sorts of problems for the defence. Loose clearance kicks were repaid with interest as Lewis King and Blair Robertson charged forwards until eventually the pressure proved too much for the beleaguered Berwick defence. A long penalty was sent into the 22 by Patterson and the ubiquitous Paul Voy touched down after several players had had their hands on the ball.
Then, another loose clearance kick out of defence was gathered by Rory Monks on half way and he charged forward before passing to Raymond Mackie who was unstoppable at top speed and Patterson’s conversion in tricky conditions topped off a great try. The scoring was completed at 41-12 in the final minute as the Berwick scrum was creaking under pressure and there was nothing they could do to stop Paul Voy notching up his hat-trick.
So a difficult game in equally difficult conditions was safely negotiated and the bonus point secured but with important game time under their belts, PL will travel to Barnton with some confidence to play RHC Cougars next Saturday. KO 2pm.
Preston Lodge Team:
G Patterson, L King, B Robertson, P Glynn, C Guiney, A Clark, P Johnstone
S Rodgers, S McLean, K Duncan, B Cowan, B Stoddart, J Brash, C Dixon, P Voy
Replacements:
L King, A Archer, R Mackie, J Sked
Player Of The Match
Not Selected
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