Eagles rue west coast mistakes
Perthshire up against it after slow start in Ardrossan
Perthshire Rugby Club began 2018 with a disappointing result on the road against Ardrossan.
Both teams approached this game having had no matches since December 2, and there was disappointment for the Eagles when skipper Adam Pattinson failed a fitness test. However, Dan Wilkie and Andy Jack in the second row filled the captain’s boots admirably.
Unfortunately for Shire, it was Ardrossan who came out of the blocks running after the long lay off and scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes.
Perthshire may have struggled recently with starting matches quickly, but as time wore on, they were beginning to play some good rugby and could easily have came away with full points.
Ardrossan went seven points up after two minutes when they moved the ball wide, but soon after this, the Eagles won a penalty and livewire full-back Ryan Miller took it quickly, chipped ahead and was felled by a late tackle.
Graeme Clow slotted the penalty but two minutes later Ardrossan won a lineout and drove over for their second try.
Shire’s lineouts were not functioning at all and they were also being overpowered in the scrum, but the power and strength of Duncan Clow at No.8 helped the Eagles rescue some possession, somehow managing to
Ryan Miller shone for Perthshire but the Eagles failed to pick up any points pluck the ball from the retreating Ardrossan and three points for Clow. scrum time and time again, and turned Perthshire looked as though they a potential disaster into an attacking had scored but the referee said it was opportunity. a double movement so no cigar. Clow
Shire were playing themselves then missed a long-range penalty back into the game though, and the attempt as the Eagles tried to gain the forwards were continually driving lead, but the lack of lineout and scrum the ball upfield. Ardrossan were ball was hampering them. resorting to penalties trying to stop With Ardrossan bossing the setpieces, them and fine work by Gray, Bowater it was no surprise when they and Clow resulted in a yellow card for notched up their third try, but Shire never gave up. Living on scraps of possession, they outshone their opponents in the loose and fine work by the new slimline Dan Wilkie drove the ball right up to the Ardrossan line and fellow lock Andy Jack dived over for Shire’s try.
Perthshire now had their tails up and Alcorn looked full of running on the wing. He combined well with Clow as the latter tore a huge hole in the home defence but a knock-on prevented what would have been an excellent try.
Shire kept up the pressure and Ryan Miller flew up for a brilliant interception to run under the posts but again the referee disallowed it.
The Eagles were caught sleeping when Ardrossan took a quick lineout and took play right up to the Shire 22, but a magnificent steal by Dan Bowater put the visitors back on the attack. Dan Rae and Ryan Miller took play right back to the Ardrossan line but the move was ended illegally and Shire won a penalty 15 metres in front of the post.
With 20 minutes left to play, Shire took the decision to go for the try but lost the ball along with the three points. Ryan Miller injured himself in the run up to the penalty and had to be dragged off the field to give himself time to recover.
Shire won another penalty but it was some 40 metres out and this time Graeme Clow tried for the conversion but his effort was inches wide.
Perthshire were giving their all but the lack of set-piece ball was their downfall.
There was no scoring in the second half but once again Shire had to rue two disallowed tries, and the decision not to take the three penalty points on offer meant that they left the seaside with no points.
Ardrossan ........ 21 Perthshire ........ 13 Perthshire may have struggled recently with starting matches quickly