Title hopes take a major dent
Double blow of injury and defeat
BT National League 2
Biggar’s BT National League Division 2 title challenge took a dent as they lost 2210 to Dumfries Saints on Saturday.
At Hartree Mill back in September Saints ran out 29-26 winners and it was anticipated that this would be a similarly close game.
That indeed proved to be the case, with a couple of errors at crucial times costing Biggar the win.
Biggar were dealt an early blow with the loss of prop Callum Baird with a dislocated shoulder. Given the scarcity of props in the club game across the board, his absence going forward will be significant.
The game opened at breakneck speed, with both sides playing an expansive game and making errors, which saw play swing from end to end.
Carne Green was just wide with the first scoring opportunity, while Dumfries forced Biggar to concede a drop-out minutes later.
Some quick offensive defence from Jamie Orr and neat footballing skills from skipper Alan Warnock took play to the Dumfries line, where the width of the post protectors was all that prevented a Biggar try.
Dumfries replied almost immediately, with some great tracking by Conor Lavery and Iain Renwick combining to halt the attack.
However, a penalty was conceded, and centre John Carlisle slotted it to put them into a 3-0 lead.
Dumfries were keen to run from almost anywhere and they made good ground off these plays. Biggar’s defence looked slow and a blind side break gave stand-off Jordan Kerr a chance to cross, with Carlisle converting for 10-0.
Kerr was unlucky shortly after the restart when he just failed to collect a chip ahead that would have given him a clear run-in.
Gregor Stewart replaced injured Baird, while Andrew Peacock deputised at prop.
From the next scrum, Biggar mounted an attack from their own 22, with Conor Lavery taking Green’s pass out wide.
His run created space, and his pass to Ross Bradford saw the winger make good ground before releasing Robbie Lavery for a run to the line and a try, which Green converted for 10-7.
Biggar’s rhythm was further disrupted by an ankle injury to Green, which saw him temporarily replaced by Aird Jardine. Ryan Moffat took a long pop at goal from a penalty, but this fell short.
A positive start to the second half saw Biggar earn a penalty, which Green kicked to equalise the scores, and a second away might have given the visitors the lead, but this was pulled just wide.
Biggar lost Peacock to injury, which led to uncontested scrums, and Callum Dunlop replaced him.
Able to take a pick-up from a steady scrum, Dumfries exploited the blind side and in the melee which followed, the referee awarded the hosts a score, which although not converted, took their lead to 15-10.
Orr crossed for Biggar, but the final pass was judged to have been forward and the try was disallowed.
Exerting pressure from a series of pick-and-goes it was almost inevitable that Biggar’s line would be breached and so it proved, the third Dumfries try, when converted, putting them clear at 22-10, with the visitors unable to get back into the game.