The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
GORDONIANS LIFELINE
HopesofavoidingrelegationkeptalivebyfinewinoverGHKinlastgamebeforesuspension
Gordonians handed themselves a lifeline in their bid to avoid relegation from National League 2, claiming the notable scalp of promotionseeking GHK in the last game to be played before the entire Scottish club schedule was suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
The 22-19 win at Old Anniesland was all the more remarkable given that it was the
Countesswells side’s first away victory of the season, achieved against a Glasgow side who had won 50-12 when the two sides met in Aberdeen in November.
They were also missing captain Danny Usugo and head coach Ryan Morrice who were not available for the Friday night game.
But according to prop Matthew Brechin the team were unfazed by having to travel for a floodlit game, and by their lowly position in the league.
He said: “We settled quickly into the game, and, despite falling 12 points behind in the first half, we were always competing and just got stronger and more confident as the game went on.
“Our last-minute try was no more than we deserved.
“We are now out of the bottom two, putting all the pressure on Whitecraigs and Falkirk who might just not believe we beat GHK on their own ground.
“We can only watch and see what happens in respect of how the rest of the season works out but if we are to play and win our remaining two games – which are both at home, to Stewart’s Melville and Newton Stewart – it will rack up the pressure even more.
“It was a great team performance but winger Simon Orr was a standout on the wing, scoring a try either side of half-time.”
Despite conceding two early tries to winger Ben Frame and No 8 Hugh Parker, one of which was converted by Kyle Henderson, the visitors kept their shape and closed the gap to 12-5 at the interval after Orr found space on the right.
Centre Graeme Crawford made it 12-8 shortly after half-time with a penalty, only for Parker to grab his second try of the night to seemingly put the game beyond Gordonians at 19-8.
But the Aberdeen side had the last say, lifted by their inspired hooker and stand-in captain
Tom Williams, with two well-taken tries from Orr and a last-gasp effort from scrum-half Emmett Strachan, both converted by Crawford.
Gordonians must wait and see how the rest of the season pans out, especially if that was their last game of the campaign.
The SRU must decide whether to let the current situation stand or revert to a percentage system, although the hope is the fixtures remaining will still be played.
Inverness squash player Alan Clyne clinched his 10th Scottish title at Edinburgh Sports Club yesterday.
The number one seed and defending champion won the first seven points of the final against Perth’s Rory Stewart, 10 years his junior, and Clyne never loosened his grip as he went on to win 11-5, 11-7, 11-7.
Clyne, 33, said: “Rory’s a really great player when his confidence is up, so I wanted to be ‘on it’ from the first point.
“A 10th title sounds great, although I’m always proud to win the national title. I’m getting on a bit now, but I still feel fit and I’m still keeping the young players in check.”
Aberdeen’s Chris Leiper beat Jamie Henderson in yesterday’s bronze medal play-off.
Holder and top seed Lisa Aitken claimed her fourth ladies’ crown by defeating local teenager Georgia Adderley in three straight games.
Tyson Fury’s reign as world heavyweight champion is set to continue despite new allegations concerning his drug-testing history.
The Mail on Sunday alleged a farmer had been offered money to provide an alibi for Fury’s failed test in 2015.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren, who was not involved at the time, told The Sun: “Tyson has never ever met this man and his story is total bulls***.”
Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the World Boxing Council whose belt Fury won from Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas last month, said the allegations would have “no impact” on his reign as champion.