Accies 2s beat EK. Round 2 takes place Sat 2 Feb.

With the 1st XV EK v Glasgow Accies match falling foul of a frozen EK pitch, the 2nd XVs of both teams played on an excellent surface (given current conditions) at New Anniesland.

It was a fairly even contest for the first 20 minutes, albeit Accies were doing more of the attacking.

Gary (which club am I playing for this week?, aka Yo Yo) Thornton, playing at centre, had a storming run through the home defence in the 11th minute. Left with only the fullback to beat, Gary spent too long assessing his options and was cut down by the cover. Bit more work required on his chip and collect technique.

Accies then applied some pressure. Having concentrated initially on forward dunts, they decided to use their backs. They finally created an overlap on the right wing to score an unconverted try, when a try under the posts seemed to go begging. Score 5-0 after 22 minutes.

Accies followed this up with another try in the 31st minute, again on the right and again unconverted. EK were struggling for any cohesive possession and when they had the ball found it difficult to get out of their own half. Score: 10-0.

Accies got their final try when the referee missed a blatant Accies offside, the ball was turned over by EK as a result and Accies made good use of it to score just to the left of the posts in 36 minutes. Score 17-0 (which it remained until half time).

The only other events of note in the half were a number of rumbustious charges by David Rosie (Junior) and another bustling run by Yo Yo that finally died some five metres from the try line.

EK made a number of substitutions at half time, bringing on some of the big guns – Ian Brown, and Chris Slaven and relieving that rarely sighted flanker, JB Timmons, who was having his first ever outing as a left wing. He played it like a flanker, which I suppose was no surprise!

EK forwards were struggling to win any possession so the talent in the backline were living off scraps and spending much of their time defending. Highlights included ex-coach Jason Currie ignoring his own coaching advice by catching the ball one handed and trying to hand off the whole opposition. He ran out of steam at the third hand off.

When prop Calum Hastie came off with an injury to his knee, the scrums went uncontested until he resumed action. EK got some possession and headed towards the Accies line. Awarded a penalty some five metres out, hooker Calum Aitken decided that was as far as he could run so charged over from the penalty to register EK’s only try.

EK then had a brief period of pressure in the half, including a dummy and sprint up the left wing by stand off Scott Johnson. He later linked with full back Ian Brown on the switch who blasted his way some 40 metres before being cut down some 5 metres from the Accies line.

And that was it. Accies won the first half, EK the second and both sides retired to the clubhouse to reflect on being lucky enough to have been able to play.

Next week, the 1sts have no fixture as Scotland play England at Twickenham. The 2s, with a larger fixture backlog, play – surprise, surprise – Glasgow Accies 2s at the Torrance House Arena (weather permitting). Kick off for Round 2 to be confirmed.

Team: 15: Mark (Sparky)Ellison; 14. Alex Irvine; 13: Gary (Yo Yo) Thornton; 12. Bruce Beggans (Captain); 11. JB Timmons; 10. Scott Johnston; 9. Ross Stewart; 8. Stewart Kampman; 7. John Watson; 6. Chris O'Neill; 5. Eddie Beaton; 4. David Rosie; 3. Calum Hastie; 2. Calum Aitken; 1. Jason (better change my first name to Calum)Currie.
Replacements: Grant Seymour; Ian Brown; Chris Slaven (all used).