Kelso RFC (37) vs Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC (7) - RBS Premier 2 - Stage 2
Pre-Match Report
Coming Soon…
Match Report
Kelso very kindly accommodated Hillhead/ Jordanhill by agreeing to a slightly earlier kick off and also very kindly conceded the normal bucket load of penalties but other than that it was a very good day at the office for the Kelso team. Last Saturday at Selkirk, Kelso were lucky to only come second but today the mood was better, and the error count was minimised. The tries followed and with it the very welcome bonus point.
It was a fine and sunny but windy and the pitch was in really good order. Kelso played with the wind in the first half and had obviously learned the lesson of last week. The kicking with the wind was sensible and good positions on the field were gained. From these, the scores came. Two early penalties by Kieran Wilkinson settled Kelso and in the 18th minute Kelso scored the first try when a delicate chip through by Mark Chester was chased well by Frankie Robson. From the ensuing pressure, Ali Marsh was driven over. Wilkinson kicked the conversion.
The lead was increased when Kelso won turn over ball away back in the 22. Kevin Utterson ran well and fed Gregg Minto who made good ground. From the ruck on the left , the ball was moved out to the right and Donald Seed galloped over, with the hint of a dummy, from 30 metres with still 3 men outside him. Wilkison failed with the conversion.
Another good passage of play brought no reward for Kelso but from a driven line out on the Hills 22, Kelso swept the ball left and then an inside pass was enough to check the Hills defence for Frankie Robson to go over near the posts. Wilkinson converted to take Kelso 25 points clear.
As half time approached Chester thought he was away from about 50 metres out but was recalled by the referee for being offside at the ruck. So the half ended with Kelso in a comfortable position but then they had the wind advantage in the first half. The only worry was the 8-2 penalty count against them.
Hills started the 2nd half by kicking the ball dead and allowed Kelso to get into a good position. Chester made a scintillating break followed by a deft pass to Richard Minto who fed his brother, Gregg. He looked for all the world to be heading in at the corner but was tackled just short. Although he seemed to release the ball after the tackle, the referee thought differently and so awarded another penalty.
Hills had a chance when their scrum half, who was one of their better players, almost held on to an interception. Kelso’s next score was not far away and, after a few chances went a begging, the referee allowed a long advantage from which Kelso moved the ball left, recycled and then drove a maul on for captain Minto to score. The conversion was missed but that was the bonus point try.
Hills had a few minutes of pressure and after a mistake and an adverse review of the referee’s decision by the Kelso defender, a penalty was awarded. The tapped kick allowed Hills to drive replacement Ali Wright over for a try which Harry Boyd converted.
The scoring was finished when Mark Chester produced another well weighed chip through for Gregg Minto to gather on a high bounce and stretch over. Wilkinson whose kicking was very good converted from the wrong touchline for him in to the wind to give him 5 out of 7 for the day.
With the win, Kelso jumped back up to second place in the group with a home game next week against Biggar to follow. The scrum was again well controlled and the line out play was generally successful despite the windy conditions. Although, Ewan Ford and Gareth Riddell were missing today, the forwards again played well with James Stevenson carrying the ball well and often. Until he received a knock, David Lowrie also had a very effective game at number 8 and Keiran Cooney showed what a fine acquisition he is to the squad.
All in all, a fine performance all round by backs and forwards alike. They worked well as a team and had a masterly performance in defence.
Smiley faces all round at Poynder Park!
Kelso team: Keiran Wilkinson, Gregg Minto, Richard Minto, Kevin Utterson, Frankie Robson, Mark Chester, Andy Tait, Keiran Cooney, Chris Riddell, Ali Marsh, Donald Seed, Stef Carnegie, Iain Wallace, James Stevenson, David Lowrie
Replacements used Stuart Lowrie, Andrew Wallace, Lewis Mallin and Murray Hastie
