Bish bounce back to beat Lanark
BEN RAMAGE
Bishopton hosted Lanark a fortnight after beating them in the season opener hoping to make it two from two.
The Bish were looking to bounce back after a hard fought away defeat to Mull last week and knew they had a tough task ahead, having conceded three tries to Lanark when they met earlier this month.
The match started off as such with Lanark taking two early penalties with the 14 men they started the match with to go 6-0 up within 12 minutes.
However, Bish were able to take advantage of the returning ball on the second penalty.
Taylor picked up from the back of a scrum and popped the ball off to Neil. Neil then powered through the Lanark line to get the score, with Catto adding the extras to get Bish back in the lead.
Bish then took a penalty on the 22 and Catto lined it up and slotted it over to make it 10-6 to Bishopton.
Neil then powered over again from close range after a tap and go, with Catto missing the conversion.
Taylor made a surging break from halfway, sprinting away to extend his try-scoring run in consecutive matches to three.
Catto slotted the conversion and extended the lead to 22–6.
Having scored three times from open play, the hosts then showed what they could do in the set piece.
They dominated several Lanark lineouts with steals and then gained a scrum on the five-metre line.
They pushed the Lanark scrum back over the try line and Haldane simply had to break away and place a hand down on the ball to get the score. Catto slotted the conversion, giving the home side a strong 29–6 lead at the break.
Within minutes of the second half starting, former youth ranks member Moat picked up a pass from Hearty and powered past two Lanark defenders to score in the corner. Catto’s conversion from out wide dropped short leaving the score 34–6.
Richardson on the wing then got in on the scoring, bagging his first score for the club.
Catto’s conversion from right on the touchline dropped just short.
He made it two when he put on the after burners after a fine attacking move to slide across the line in true poacher’s fashion, taking the score to 44-6 Bishopton.
Catto broke the line before popping the ball up from the ground to Taylor who took the gift-wrapped pass and scored under the posts. Catto slotted again to make it 51-6 Bishopton.
Taylor turned supplier late on with a quick tap penalty and the tired Lanark defence stood no chance as Neil smashed into them, grabbing his third try of the day just before full time.
A Bishopton club spokesman said: “It was a rousing result for the Bish and a strong bounce back after a hard away trip to Mull last week.
“It was especially pleasing to keep the whitewash at our backs uncrossed all day.”
“Next week sees the action remain at Holmpark as local rivals Birkmyre come along for the Bowl tie, which will sure to be interesting as this fixture has not been played in two seasons due to both clubs passing one another in the leagues through promotion in consecutive seasons.”