BULLS BREAK DUCK AND GRAB BONUS
Hamilton ........ 27 Aberdeen ....... 20 Hamilton broke their duck in the BT National League 1 and moved up to ninth in the table with a bonus-point win over Abedeen.
The Bulls got off to a great start as they took a seventh-minute lead when Owen Mcleish’s grubber kick caused panic in the Aberdeen defence and Andrew Wilson pounced to score. Mcleish added the conversion for 7-0.
Aberdeen missed a glorious chance to close the gap when Sam Knudsen missed a penalty shot, and although they kept pressing, Hamilton’s defence stood firm.
When Ross Jamieson intercepted on half-way and scampered in under the posts, Mcleish added the conversion for 14-0.
The strength of the Aberdeen forwards began to tell, and on 24 minutes prop Matthias Schosser scored out wide after a 10-metre driving maul.
Both defences were in great form and there was no further scoring ahead of the interval.
A clearly fired-up Aberdeen took control early in the second half, however, and within two minutes Knudsen had added a penalty.
Only desperate defending kept Aberdeen at bay, but when Andrew Bruce was yellow carded for pulling down a maul, and with superior numbers, prop Colin Neilson bundled over for a converted try to give Aberdeen a one-point lead.
Despite being a man down, Hamilton went back on the attack and forced a penalty, which Mcleish slotted to restore their lead.
The game was on a knife-edge and Hamilton were returned to 15 for only four minutes as Yan Young saw foul of the referee with 15 minutes left, and Aberdeen took advantage as Callum Champion surged over for a terrific try after some great handling by their backs.
Hamilton were determined not to led the game slip away from them though and when a brilliant cross-field kick from Owen Mcleish found Ross Jamieson he was forced into touch just short of the line.
From the lineout the forwards carried the ball strongly, and Darren Carr dropped down in the corner.
The bonus point try was created by Andy Wilson, whose break deep in his own half, and elusive running, carried him deep into opposition territory where he found Robert Brown on his shoulder to run in under the posts.
Mcleish added the conversion to put Hamilton into a 27-20 lead.
Aberdeen threw everything they had at Hamilton, and only some desperate tackling kept them at bay, with the Hamilton crowd greeting the final whistle with great relief.