Clydebank Post | Sport | Not quite run of the Mill

Friday, 4th July, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 30th April, 2008 10:10

Not quite run of the Mill

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CHARGE: Bankies forward on the move

Millbrae 1st XV 5 Clydebank 1st XV 10

THIS was the second last league match of the season against an Ayrshire side whose players had to get acquainted on the pitch.

Millbrae started with three players from the first team of its associate club Ayr as they tried to end Bankies unbeaten league run.

Despite bolstering its squad heavily and playing with a man advantage for almost the full second half — after the Clydebank hooker was sent off — Millbrae still lost.

The game itself was not Clydebank’s finest 80 minutes but enough was done to win the match. After six minutes they were ahead when Ian Starkey broke up the middle from a lineout and set up Mark Dry to run in for the first try, which Ross Moffatt converted.

It looked like an easy day was on the cards but Millbrae had other ideas and with the assistance of the undeclared ringers they came back into the match.

On 15 minutes, a break by Scott McIntosh set up Peter Watson to go over but he was stopped just before the line and the inside pass was picked up by the Millbrae defender who cleared his lines.

It took until the 20th minute before a long range drop goal by captain David Miller stretched the lead to 0-10.

Millbrae came back at Clydebank and six minutes later a clearance by Clydebank fell to the Millbrae winger who set off down the park. His pass to the tall centre in the middle of the park set him up to run in for a try which was unconverted, leaving Bankies five ahead at half-time.

The second half proved to be a battle for survival by Clydebank as they began to lose their cohesion and a degree of in-fighting broke out.

After five minutes, a ruck turned into a battle that saw a Clydebank player red carded and a Millbrae player sin binned for 10 minutes.

While the teams were even, Clydebank came close when Ronnie McKee was stopped short of the line after Mark Dry pushed down the middle of the park to set up a ruck which was quickly recycled to Ronnie.

The ball was made available by Ronnie and passed out to the backs but some poor passing saw the ball go astray and the attack failed.

When Millbrae returned to full strength, the game became one of defence for Clydebank who held Millbrae and saw out the rest of the match without any scores to seal the victory.

Next week Clydebank travel to Paisley to complete the season and play a game that will decide whether or not Paisley gain promotion. Clydebank will need to return to their positive mindset to ensure they win this match and end the season undefeated.

The Mini rugby continues and has seen some recent growth following the coaching team’s program of coaching sessions at a number of primary schools throughout Clydebank that will culminate in several festivals where all the kids involved can put into practice the skills they learn.

The club would ask anyone wishing to play or sponsor one of the Mini or Midi teams to contact Gordon McCombe on 07812 582775 or see www.clydebankrfc.com.

Clydebank 1st XV: Baxter, Shearer, Laird, Cuthbert, Moore, Starkey I, Andrew, McIntosh, Moffatt, Bell, Dow, Watson, Dry, Miller, Starkey M, Kyle, McKee, Murphy, Coyle, Sloss.

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