Aberdeen Grammar 42 - 40 West
Thursday, 17 October 2024
A second half performance that was as good as the first had been poor was not enough to give West of Scotland victory at Rubislaw on Saturday. In truth, the defensive performance in that first forty minutes did not deserve anything more than the two bonus points gained.
West went behind in the first minute of the contest when home skipper Craig Shepherd intercepted Lewis Howick’s pass to send in his right wing, Scott Byars. Shepherd and Byars would be outstanding throughout. Dan McElderry added the conversion. For the next fifteen minutes, possession was fairly even with only Callum McCormack’s kick and chase threatening the home line. Grammar extended their lead from a scrum in their own half. After the forwards took play to halfway, Shepherd kicked ahead. The centre’s pace saw him first to the ball to touch down.
Just past the midpoint of the half, the hosts moved further ahead. From a ruck fifteen metres from the West line, blindside Steven Rutledge timed his run perfectly to take the pop-up and crash over. McElderry added the extras. Nineteen points ahead, Byars should have secured the try bonus but after some excellent link play between backs and forwards, the wing inexplicably dropped the ball with the line open. It mattered naught as Byars opposite number Charlie Stewart scored within a minute. From the scrum, West kicked clear but did not find touch. The home backs moved left, creating the overlap for Stewart to go in in the corner.
Five minutes from the interval, West suffered a blow with the loss of full back Howick. Not only is he an excellent goalkicker, he is a major attacking weapon, having the ability to time his intrusion into the line. On this occasion, he sustained a leg injury on a crash ball and was forced to retire. This meant a rejig of the back division. Inside centre Rory Cuthbertson went to full back with his partner Nicky Sutcliffe moving from 13 to 12. McCormack moved inside with Cammy Finlayson coming on at right wing.
In the last minute of the half, veteran Peter Rhodes finally got West on the board. The No 8, West’s top player on the day, powered over from a tap penalty five metres out. Owen Hourston was successful with his first attempt of the game. Grammar still looked very comfortable, ahead 24-7 at the interval.
The home side’s lead was extended by McElderry’s penalty goal immediately on the restart. West reduced the arrears with Connor Smith-Moran’s score from a catch and drive. The gap was quickly extended again after Shepherd chased his own kick ahead, Finlayson failed in an attempt to fly kick clear leaving Byars to follow up and score. West dominated from this point. West skipper Hamish Clark drove over from a ruck on the home line, Hourston converting, before lock Adam Dunford scored in similar fashion. That gave West their try bonus point with Hourston’s kick bringing them to within a score.
The referee had twice spoken to home skipper for high tackles by his side. It was no surprise when Aaron Robertson saw yellow at the next offence. Despite being a man down, Grammar extended their lead. Again Shepherd made the break for Byars to finish off and record his hat-trick. Dunford’s second try and Hourston’s conversion reduced the gap to four points. It was Shepherd who would again take advantage of poor West tackling to take Grammar two scores ahead. With two minutes left, Sutcliffe crossed the line after quick ruck ball. Any score for West now and they would win. They so nearly got it. McCormack’s pace took him to twenty metres out before he was stopped. The referee blew for no side, the match was won and lost.
A hugely entertaining afternoon for the spectators, a hugely frustrating one for the West coaching team. This Saturday, 5 October, West are at home to Cartha Queen’s Park, kick-off three o’clock. Having had a comfortable win in the cup over the same opponents at the beginning of the season, hopes are high for a West win.
