Shire rue wasted chances in defeat

Coach demands more cutting edge from players

Alan Clark reckons Perthshire failing to turn possession into points cost them victory against Murrayfield Wanderers.

The Eagles’ coach watched his squad produce a powerful display at the North Inch to pin back the visitors for large chunks of the game.

But when the final whistle sounded on Saturday, it was Murrayfield who were holding their arms aloft in celebration.

Shire went down 28-20 and Clark said: “My take on the weekend game is that it was a chance we let slip.

“There’s no doubt that we probably deserved to take something from the game given our dominance of possession and the penalty count in our favour.

“It was pleasing to see that the players were gutted to lose, where as just a couple of months ago we would have been happy with the result.

“Things have turned around significantly over the past wee while because the guys have really bought into the systems and structures we have put in place, particularly in defence.

“We are getting there in attack but there is a need to develop a bit more of a cutting edge in what we do and we need to become a little bit more ruthless.”

Graeme Clow, now back to his best form, opened the scoring for Shire at the weekend with a penalty kick.

Little did he realise that he would need all of his kicking skills as the capital side were forced into conceding no fewer than 15 penalties.

It took Murrayfield 20 minutes to mount their first serious attack and, despite some brave defending, the ball was spun out wide for a try.

Shire upped the momentum and another penalty allowed Clow to strike a monster kick to bring the Eagles back into the game.

With Clow demonstrating that he had brought his golden kicking boots with him, captain Adam Pattinson gave him another opportunity.

This time, from the half-way line, the ball sailed sweetly between the posts and Shire were in a well-deserved lead.

But Wanderers hit back when they spun the ball out from a scrum for King to race over for a try.

The warning signs were there for Shire as Wanderers, who were living off scraps, managed to grab two tries against the run of play.

Clow again notched a penalty to leave the Perth squad trailing by two at the interval.

Home supporters were puzzled in the second half when the referee awarded a penalty try to Murrayfield which led to seven more points.

Clow hit back right away with another huge penalty kick.

Shire were attacking with intent and another penalty kicked for touch led to Dan Bowater driving to the line.

But the visitors would steal possession and counter to touch down as Perth players now had a mountain to climb.

They did not give up, however, and in the last move of the game Bowater won a line-out and drove through the Wanderers pack.

Zack Harris plucked the ball out of the ruck and squeezed his way over for Shire’s only try.

Clow was faced with a touchline conversion to give his team the consolation of a losing bonus point.

The large crowd went silent as his attempt curled outside the near post.

Shire will now be hitting the training ground as league action takes a three week break.

Coach Clark said: “We have a couple of midweek run-outs against Harris and St Andrews.

“That being said, a couple of players are being given some rest as they are carrying niggles.

“The break from league competition gives us time to get the squad back to full fitness for the next game away to Highland at the start of December.”

The guys have really bought into the systems and structures we have put in place