The drive through in heavy rain into a gale with the overhead gantries flagging up yellow warning ice forecast did nothing to persuade Accies that today was going to be a fun day out in the East. On the contrary, it had been dry in Prestonpans all morning and at kick off we received a dose of wintry sun which lasted most of the first half and took the edge of a chilly breeze. Although the referee for today lives in Edinburgh, he had been allocated the Whitecraigs home match and stayed overnight in Glasgow with his parents. Imagine his anguish therefore when he received the call that our original referee had fallen ill and could he cover his ‘local’ match at Preston Lodge!
We played with the stiff breeze in the first half and we made some useful clearances. However, we know from old that Preston Lodge have a hefty strong pack and with a few key players missing from the pack we were in for a challenging afternoon. It only took the home pack seven minutes to grind their way up the pitch from Accies 10m line through a succession of pick and goes to score near the posts. Conversion missed 5-0
The cold wind made handling tricky and with breakdowns in the offing the home side used their forward power to our 22 to advance their scrum enough to set up another forwards try near the posts after 15 minutes. Conversion made 12-0
Ten minutes later an almost identical situation occurred except that Accies stalwart defence held out for several attempts and in the end Accies No8 Kane Greggain was fighting for everything when was adjudged to have collapsed the maul and prevented a certain try. Penalty try and Kane could relax for 10 minutes with a yellow card. 19-0
The forward power of the home side was unrelenting not only in the loose, but especially in the scrum, and yet when they moved the ball wider they could make very little headway with many positional and handling errors. It was from such a handling error in the 33rd minute that Scott Simmons picked up the loose ball in Preston Lodge’s 22 and ducked and dived his way through for an encouraging score under the posts. Converted by young John Strachan 19-7
The centre partnership of Holland and Simmons were working well, ably supported by Chris Woods, but Accies were being starved of possession to allow them more attacking option.
Only five minutes later our own scrum was driven back well into our 22 which gave way to a forward rush and a score under the posts. Converted. 26-7.
Only three minutes later and just before half time, an aimless kick from their full back up to the centre line was allowed to bounce and instead of an Accie pair of hands, it went straight into their centre’s breadbasket and split the defence in two for a breakaway score out wide. This was a simple lack of concentration but reinforced the home team’s first half dominance. Conversion missed.
Half Time 31-7
We turned round into the stiff breeze in the second half and played with more determination. Our scrum was holding up a little better although their lineout was much more secure than our own. It was nearly half way through the second half before Preston Lodge got into our 22 and from another series of forward drives and pick and go our stalwart defence were unable to hold back the attacking waves. Try under the posts. Conversion made. 38-7
We were still making a contest out of the second half, but on 65 minutes a break through the middle on our 10m line allowed their big No8 to break two tackles and force his way through for a try just wide of the posts. Conversion missed. 43-7
With only five minutes to go and both sides tiring, a succession of comic missed kicks from both sides allowed the home team winger to pounce on a stray bouncing ball to romp home near the corner. When you are playing with confidence the loose balls seem to go your way and this was a good example of that. Conversion made 50-7
No further plays of any significance were made and the game came to a close.
Full – time 50 – 7
The score line was a true reflection of the difference in the teams. However, had our experienced bulk in the pack been available this could have been a different contest and we would clearly have disrupted the home teams dominance up front, preventing their forwards such scoring opportunities, and would have undoubtedly allowed our enterprising backs more freedom to cut loose.
There were encouraging performance from less experienced players and this will give them much needed experience to show them what will be required of them in the future. A much needed break for the festive season now awaits the team and this will allow the team to regroup. A tough opening match on Saturday 11th January against Dumfries awaits preceded by a supporters lunch being organised by Mo Smith to which everyone is encouraged to attend,
