First XV Match Reports
13/3/10
Haddington 0 Biggar 21
After some concern midweek about the likely availability of players, Biggar managed to field a close to top XV at Haddington, although the 2nd XV game against Currie had to be conceded due to unavailability and injury.
Haddington are on the brink of relegation and it had been expected that they would put up a stiff resistance to Biggar in the hope that points garnered from this game and then from their midweek game against Jedforest would be enough to keep them in Premier 2.
As it was however, with a resurgent Kelso winning on Friday night at Peebles, and a defeat by Biggar, Haddington’s hopes are now very slim.
Biggar fielded a young squad once again with halfbacks Iain Renwick and Conor Lavery to the fore and with Josh Harvey, Matthew Hamilton and Andrew Goodall another three youngsters involved in the pack.
Biggar opened strongly and had the vast bulk of possession throughout although as expected Haddington did provide some resistance. Credit then to Biggar’s close defence which prevented Hadington from getting the ball over the line, this including a couple of occasions when ball taken almost to the line by the East Lothian side was held up and driven back.
A Scott Cameron try in the first half, this off a training ground move where the big prop takes a ball in midfield from his scrum half – in this case Sam Muir – Cameron barged his way over from almost the 22 metre line to cross under the posts. Unfortunately Chris McKeand was off target with the conversion to this try although he did make amends in the second half with a two conversions and two penalties.
Scrum half Muir was the next to score, his try coming after a period of sustained pressure which culminated in a 5-metre attacking scrum. Taking full advantage of some weak defence Muir broke blind to squeeze in at the corner.
In a game where again Fraley Hopa maintained his exploits on the touchline, plundering ball from his and his opponents throw, it was good to see No 8 Jason Kelly also to the fore, his turnovers doing much to help Biggar maintain the pressure on their hosts.
The clinching score fell to Cameron again, this time after a neat break from replacement No 10 Iain Renwick before feeding his supporting prop.
Another win and another 4 points then, this sufficient to take the side into 3rd place in Premier 2, just one behind GHA, but now level on the ‘games played’ column.
Biggar
C. McKeand, S. Watson, S. James, D. Notman, M. McKeand, C. Lavery, S. Muir, S. Cameron, M. Rutherford, K. Anderson, F. Hopa, M. Hamilton, A. Goodall, C. Cochrane, J. Kelly. Reps I. Renwick, J. Harvey
6/3/10
Biggar 10 Gala 3
Biggar recorded a pleasing win over their Border visitors and thereby jumped up to 4th place in Premier 2, just behind GHA who recorded the biggest score of this seasons campaign in dumping Dunfermline by 83 points. Biggar have a game in hand over GHA however so a 3rd place finish is still a possibility.
Coach Ants Posa selected his top side available with Andrew Cairns, Lewis McLachlan and Murray Thomson all unavailable. That meant a start for Conor Lavery at No 10, with Iain Renwick on the bench.
This was an entertaining game though again one which was played by two teams who clearly lacked match practice and continuity because of the weather. This was, after all, only the 4th league game for the clubs in as many months. Knock-ons, turnovers, dropped passes and the like made for a scrappy yet otherwise entertaining game.
The game was a very close fought encounter but one which Biggar, certainly given their territorial advantage alone, deserved to win. Gala meanwhile looked somewhat out of sorts and nothing like the XV which turned out at Netherdale back in November to take the game by 16-6.
The first half was a largely equal half with Gala eventually breaking the deadlock on the half hour mark to notch the first points via a penalty from Graham Spiers. This lead was short lived as Biggar scored a cracking try from a set scrum. In a training ground move Simeon James swept blind to feed Scott Watson who cruised over and then under the posts for a great score converted by Chris McKeand.
Half time came shortly afterwards with Biggar turning round to play 'upfield' and away from the clubhouse.
Biggar managed to 'concede' the penalty count, much to the delight of the visiting support who were nevertheless disappointed that no 'cards' were shown. Truth be told, Biggar have received yellows on previous occasions but as the visitors seemed to escape even penalties (to wit one blatant 'crossing' offence, minutes after Biggar had been penalised for an identical transgression) perhaps things evened themselves out over the piece. Unfortunately for them, Gala were unable to convert this advantage into points, much of this largely due to their lineout which failed to provide tidy ball and which was savaged by Fraley Hopa and his lifters who pinched several against the put in. On other occasions when ball was kicked the back three for Biggar of the McKeand brothers and Watson dealt pretty well with the bouncing ball to run back at the advancing Gala support and to take play back upfield.
Both sides kicked and chased but both, equally, sought to handle the ball and play out wide. This was not without error, Biggar probably making more line breaks but unable to capitalise on these due to passing errors and/or Gala last ditch defence which too often managed to disrupt the final pass.
Biggar for their part also defended well, Michael McKeand putting in a telling tackle as Gala broke wide, and then again as the pack sought to stop Gala at ruck and maul. Scott Cameron, Andrew Goodall, Hopa and others all made good line breaks although as previously mentioned none of these led to scores.
Speirs missed a kickable penalty early on before Chris McKeand took Biggar ahead by 10-3 midway through the half. The same player might have put Biggar out of sight on the half hour mark, but his kick slid wide, this giving Gala some hope in that a converted try would have been sufficient to tie the scores.
As it was and try as they did, Gala failed to cross the line and the game came to its conclusion with Biggar ahead by 10-3, Gala still however able to claim a losing bonus point.
Unfortunately the apparent frustration felt by Gala provoked a verbal outburst by lock Euan Dods as the final whistle blew and he was immediately shown a red card by the official.
Biggar now prepare for an away trip to Haddington on Saturday, this game a rescheduled fixture from January. If it goes ahead, and it surely should, this will be the first time Biggar have managed to play back-to-back fixtures since early December. The East Lothian side are dangerously close to the drop, particularly as both Kelso and Jed recorded wins on Saturday past (the Kelso win over Stirling somewhat unexpected), and also as they face Jed the following Wednesday, this could be make or break as to whether they retain Premier 2 status. The game on Saturday is a 1pm kick-off to allow those with tickets to attend the Calcutta Cup clash with England.
Biggar - Chris McKeand, Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Conor Lavery, Sam Muir; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Kevin Anderson, Grant Owens, Fraley Hopa, Charles Cochrane, Alan Warnock, Jason Kelly . Replacements: Iain Renwick, Andrew Peacock, Mark Fowler, Andrew Goodall.
13/02/10
Biggar 31 Kelso 8
Biggar recorded their second win of 2010 against a somewhat dispirited Kelso XV by virtue of 5 tries to 1. This was another excellent win for Posa's men and one which, for Biggar support at least, made up a little for the disappointment of the Cardiff result.
Biggar were forced to make a couple of changes from the XV which defeated Peebles last week. In the pack Charles Cochrane made a rare start at flanker for the unavailable Ewan McAlpine while in the three-quarters the Cardiff bound Conor Lavery was replaced by Iain Renwick at stand off.
Biggar opened as well as they had last week and quickly exerted their authority on proceedings with some good close passing and excellent support play. This provided good ball for the backs who pushed Kelso back, forcing them back to their 22 where they were forced to make many defensive plays. In attempts to turn Biggar and take play downfield Kelso opted for the boot this leading to no fewer than 4 'marks' from the Biggar back three. When in attack it was only a combination of some sound defence and some unforced errors which kept Biggar out.
Renwick was to the fore as Biggar piled on the pressure. Andrew Cairns and his lifters took some prime ball at the lineout and this added to the pressure, this eventually telling as fullback Chris McKeand was on hand to burst over from all of 40 metres out to break the deadlock after 23 minutes.
Barely 5 minutes later and another thrust upfield saw Renwick link with Douglas Notman. The centre made good yards but his offload hit the ground. It appeared that the move would founder but Murray Thomson popped up just at the right time to scoop the ball up before making the final yards to the line for a great score. McKeand managed the conversion to this try to take Biggar ahead at 12-0.
Minutes later and Kelso replied for the penalty spot, fullback Greg Ponton kicking the points from this attempt.
At 12-3 Biggar turned round in a comfortable though not yet match winning lead. They began really positively once more with Fraley Hopa, Jason Kelly taking ball forward. This eventually spawned ball for scrum half Muir who scampered over for what was his first try of this season. McKeand kicked the conversion from under the posts for 19-3.
Michael Rutherford, Cochrane and Thomson then linked very well to maintain the pressure on an already tiring Kelso side. Ants Posa then rang the changes with Alan Warnock taking over for Cochrane in the back row, Michael McKeand on for winger Scott Watson and then Andrew Peacock coming on for the tireless Kevin Anderson at prop.
There was very little respite for Kelso however as Biggar continued to press through some fine interplay between backs and forwards. The next surge saw Kelso make a good mark in the face of a Biggar attack but in an attempt to move ball quickly the Kelso kicker made a loose pass which Cairns gobbled up before crossing untouched for a 4th Biggar try. McKeand added the conversion for 26-3.
Unfortunately Kelly picked up an ankle knock, but this was no disappointment for Cochrane who was only too pleased to return to the fray! Kelso never lay down however and they then had what was undoubtedly their best passage of play. A lack of discipline led to their first foray being short-lived as some backchat saw a Kelso penalty reversed and a chance for Biggar to clear their lines. This they managed but Kelso came back and recorded a good score after their pack took full advantage of a lineout to pick and drive to the line Daniel Porteous the scorer.
A bad fall as he went for a kick ahead led to Thomson retiring from the action, Watson another eager to make his return to the action. Simeon James was the next to score, the centre benefitting from another great passage of interplay following a turnover on Kelso ball. Cairns and Notman made the space with James diving for the line under the Kelso defence.
Kelso legend and ex-Biggar coach was in charge of the Kelso XV on Saturday and rest assured he will work tirelessly to ensure Kelso give everything to stay in Premier 2 but on the evidence of this display he will have a difficult job. Jedforest and Dunfermline are both below Kelso while Haddington are just 1 point ahead so it will be a real dogfight to see who avoids the drop. Having been in similar situations all at Biggar know how difficult the rest of the season will be. As for Biggar the 5 points gained on Saturday mean that they move up to 4th spot in Premier 3. GHA also recorded a bonus point win on Saturday so they retain 3rd spot.
Biggar now prepare for a tricky trip to Aberdeen this Saturday. The Grammar side are in 6th spot but always a difficult side to beat at home. With many youngsters now gaining in experience and staking a claim for a starting place coach Posa will have an interesting time selecting his team.
Biggar - Chris McKeand, Murray Thomson, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Iain Renwick, Sam Muir; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Kevin Anderson, Andrew Cairns, Fraley Hopa, Grant Owens, Charles Cochrane, Jason Kelly. Replacements: Michael McKeand, Andrew Peacock, Alan Warnock, David Reive.
6/02/10
Biggar 11 Peebles 6
After an absence of some 9 weeks Biggar returned to Hartreemill and, in what was a somewhat scrappy encounter, managed to record a deserved 11-6 victory over near neighbours Peebles.
On the same number of league points prior to the game (40) there was never any doubt that this local derby would be a close run affair, particularly as Biggar had taken the honours back in September at The Gytes and that the visitors would therefore be gunning for revenge.
In dull, damp conditions Biggar opened strongly, ball taken into contact with a pleasing authority and commitment and then set back so that momentum could be easily maintained. This provided scrum half Sam Muir with excellent quick ball for stand off Conor Lavery who distributed well in what was arguably his best game so far at 1st XV level.
Douglas Notman, Scott Cameron, Chris McKeand and Ewan McAlpine were all prominent at this stage and their efforts were rewarded with a penalty which McKeand pulled left.
Biggar maintained the pressure on the visitors by keeping the pace up and by taking quick lineouts whenever possible. A Lavery break saw Peebles penalised again, McKeand making no mistake and putting Biggar ahead by 3-0. The same player took the score to 6-0 on 14 minutes as Biggar continued to press, Peebles very much on the defensive.
Donald Anderson pulled his first penalty attempt left, this after what was Peebles first real foray into the Biggar half and coming after 17 minutes. Things got worse for Peebles when they lost the services of their lock after he retaliated after the whistle, this being a costly indiscretion as the penalty, initially awarded to Peebles, was reversed by the referee.
The numbers were soon even again however, following the intervention of the touch judge who adjudged Simeon James to have used his feet illegally in a ruck. Peebles ran the ball from this award and quickly moved ball to the left where Biggar have McAlpine to thank for an excellent last ditch tackle which succeeded in preventing what was a certain score.
Biggar worked their way upfield and out of defence but another penalty gave visiting fullback Anderson a second kickable penalty which he managed to convert, albeit via the upright. At 6-3 and despite Biggar's territorial advantage and possession this was anybody's game.
Alan Warnock replaced McAlpine just after the half hour mark, the veteran flanker having out in a tremendous shift. The half ended with Biggar on the attack after a free kick award which they chose to run and which again looked promising.
A Biggar penalty just after the restart preceded another great passage of play as Biggar returned to the attack, Cameron, Kevin Anderson, Lavery and Muir all to the fore as they recycled ball to press Peebles. A series of ruck balls eventually provided the Biggar side with sufficient space to really stretch the Peebles defence. A run by McKeand and then link to James seeing ball fed wide to Scott Watson who managed to round the Peebles defence for a great score. Wide out and almost on the touchline the kick proved to be too far out for McKeand but at 11-3 there was a little daylight between the sides.
Murray Thomson made a crucial half interception to halt an early Peebles attack while on the opposite wing Watson used a very clever step-over shimmy to confuse everyone, including himself!
The game was never close to being dirty although with Fraley Hopa another to be sent to the bin many could have been forgiven for thinking so. The big lock was guilty of a shoulder charge and down to 14 again Biggar could have come unstuck. As it was Anderson was wide with his penalty attempt.
A series of promising moves from both sides then came unstuck this largely down to lack of game time and match fitness borne of the long enforced lay off. Peebles crept marginally closer to ensure the game finished with just one score separating the sides and which also gave Peebles a losing bonus.
Stand-off Neil Warnock continued to exert much pressure via some well judged diagonal kicks and up-an-unders and back rower Borthwick proved to be a belligerent presence but Peebles were unable to take full advantage of their opportunities as Biggar flung themselves into every defensive situation.
As the game moved into the 4th quarter a Lavery drop kick was pushed wide. An error as Peebles broke out from the drop out restart spawned ball which Lavery and then Murray Thomson managed to control to take play upfield. This was followed by an Anderson pick up. Very untypically the prop, who always makes great yards on a charge, elected to prod the ball forward with a neat chip to the corner which was almost perfect in execution and almost taken by winger Thomson. Unfortunately the winger failed to catch the ball but he was also adjudged to be offside. Had the ball been taken, the try would have soon been a one of legend!
Peebles sought to use the boot on many occasions and while this caused some problems for Biggar as they tried to catch and clear, the Biggar back three managed to repel the first up tacklers and retain possession. Muir proved to be his usual effective self in these chores while in attack the Kiwi was very unlucky with a line break, his burst to the line being halted as he slipped on the turf, this preventing a certain score.
Four points to Biggar then and a move to 5th place in the league. The side now have 6 games remaining, four at home against Kelso (this weekend), Gala (6th March), Kirkcaldy (20th March) and Stirling County (27th March) and two away against Aberdeen (20th February) and Haddington (27th February).
Biggar - Chris McKeand, Murray Thomson, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Conor Lavery, Sam Muir; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Kevin Anderson, Andrew Cairns, Fraley Hopa, Grant Owens, Ewan McAlpine , Jason Kelly. Replacements: Andrew Goodall, Ian Renwick, Andrew Peacock, Alan Warnock.
23/01/10
Hawick 23 Biggar 9
Biggar travelled to an emotionally charged Mansfield Park in Hawick on Saturday to resume their Premier 2 campaign after the much prolonged festive break. The death midweek of Bill McLaren, the legendary Voice of Rugby, was rightly marked by a minutes applause prior to kick off, all teams playing lining up to participate. What a man!
Biggar fielded a familiar XV, the only exception to this being the appearance of flanker Ewan McAlpine who made his first outing at this level this season because of the unavailability of Alan Warnock. It says much for the 'veteran' back row man that he lasted the pace well before being replaced on the hour mark.
Opening up well but obviously fairly ring-rusty (a theme which pervades most match reports this weekend!), Biggar took the first points from a Chris McKeand penalty. It wasn't long before Hawick took the lead however as an ambitious pass from Biggar 10 Sam Muir was intercepted by Hawick's John Coutts who scampered across for an opportunist try from some 25 metres out. Converted by Graham Hogg, this took Hawick into a lead they would never thereafter relinquish. The centre then kicked a penalty this just prior to a drop goal from Coutts - these two monopolising the Hawick points.
This gave Hawick a 13-3 lead and while there were few who could claim that this was not deserved, the frequency of the scores perhaps flattered the home side a little as Biggar continued to compete on all fronts, the tight scrummage in particular a much improved phase from the last outings of 2009.
As it was however, it was the Border side which scored again, a good passage of forward play being rounded off by No 8 Bruce McNeil who crashed over for his sides second try, this again converted by Hogg. Half time then and 20-3 to Hawick.
In the early part of the season Biggar won many games by their enhanced fitness, their wide game seeing teams crumble in the last quarter.
Given their equal top placing Hawick were never likely to crumble but the storming start to the second half by the Biggar side certainly made Hawick work in defence as the Biggar side took the honours in both possession and territory. That they could not convert that advantage into points is a frustration, borne also by some bad luck which saw on one occasion Biggar No 8 Jason Kelly dispossessed just metres from the try line.
A score at that point would have put Biggar right into the frame but they had to be content instead with two Chris McKeand penalties which took the score to 20-9. Try as they could Biggar were unable to add to their tally and it was in fact Hawick who had the last word, this via another Hogg penalty for the final 23-9 scoreline. On 40 points and in 6th place Biggar would dearly love to add a few more wins to their seasons tally, and challenge at least for 3rd spot. Their first opportunity should come on Saturday when Fife side Kirkcaldy are the visitors. They sit just below Biggar in 7th spot and will be keen too to take revenge after Biggar won on their visit to Kirkcaldy last year.
For the rugby-starved Biggar support, Saturday would be great opportunity to get back to Hartreemill and shout on your team!
Biggar
M. Thomson, M. McKeand, S. James, C. Lavery, C. McKeand, S. Muir, D. Reive, S. Cameron, M. Rutherford, K. Anderson, F. Hopa, G. Owens, E. McAlpine, A. Cairns, J. Kelly. Reps (all used) : D. Notman, A. Peacock, I. Renwick.
19/12/09
The decision to postpone Saturday's local derby with Peebles was not taken quickly and a handful of Biggar committee, coach Ants Posa and captain Sam Muir pondered the possibilities of declaring the game on/off.
Ex-ref Jim Yuille was called down to give his opinion and he too found it not an easy one to make. The problem surrounded clearing the pitch of the snow that had protected much of the pitch from the heavy frost of the previous 2 nights. There was too much snow to allow the game to go ahead as it was, but clearing the snow would expose the pitch to the freezing temperatures which would render the ground unplayable. Postponement was the only decision and so the message was relayed to Peebles.
At 2pm it looked as though the decision might have been the wrong one however, as the temperature had risen slightly in the morning and removed a lot of the snow. Indeed there was a training session in full swing at 2.30pm.
Things were markedly different at 3pm however when a blizzard swept across the Hartreemill ground, reducing visibility to barely the width of the pitch and seeing training - as would have been the case had the game gone on- abandoned.
12/12/09
Jedforest 10 Biggar 13
This was a must win match for both sides and this was reflected in much of the play which was nervy and error ridden. Happily, from a Biggar point of view at any rate, it was Biggar who came out on top, this courtesy of a Jason Kelly try and Chris McKeand who slotted one conversion and 2 penalties (from 3 attempts) while Ewan Scott managed a conversion to Paul Pringle's try and one penalty from 2 attempts. He was also wide with a drop goal in the dying minutes.
Biggar breathe slightly easier as this result takes them to 5th spot on 40 points and should give them some confidence as they prepare to welcome derby opponents Peebles this Saturday. Biggar have rarely come out o top at Riverside Park and this was an important time to record a win. The result was not one which the Border side would welcome however, particularly as their nearest rivals at the foot of the table, Dunfermline and Kelso, both recorded wins to add to the mounting pressure. Jed have never been in Premier 3 and will doubtless fight hard to avoid the drop.
Biggar rang the changes again on Saturday as in the backs Chris McKeand was fielded at wing with Douglas Notman in at fullback. Conor Lavery operated in the centre with Simeon James, while in the pack Michael Dunlop held his place in the front row and Alan Warnock returned to the starting XV in place of Hugh Green who began on the bench.
The heavy frost prevented any play at Biggar and the thick mist which engulfed the Jed ground threatened to do the same, so much so that the floodlights were on from the start - and this for a 2pm kick-off.
The game had barely started when Jed scored the first try, this following a series of keenly contested scrummages on the Biggar 5m line. Flanker Paul Pringle managed to squeeze over and with Scott kicking the conversion Biggar were 7-0 down. Able to resume the attack almost directly from the kick off Jed thought they had managed another try as their pack drove the Biggar 8 back from line and scrum. Pringle it was again who took the ball to the line but the referee was unsighted and he had little option but to award an attacking scrum. On this occasion Biggar were able to exert sufficient pressure to thwart their hosts.
Having cleared their line Biggar were given extra respite via thrusts from David Reive and Chris McKeand. A brace of free kicks (one of which saw Jed marched back 10 metres for back-chat) and then two further penalties were well used by Douglas Notman to take play further into the Jed half. A line out on the Jed 5m line provided ball from which Sam Muir made a dart for the line. His off-load found Jason Kelly who was able to cross for a score as the first quarter came to an end. McKeand added the conversion for 7-7.
Alan Warnock made a tireless contribution throughout the game and it was a midfield burst which Muir and then Conor Lavery benefited from though Lavery's clever return off-load to Muir was just forward.
On the half hour mark Kelly and Muir, then Reive all went close but were again held up although had the ball been moved wider, earlier, Biggar might have been better rewarded. As it was a scrum flashpoint saw Jed penalised and McKeand take Biggar ahead at 10-7. He was just short with his next attempt and a long drop out although well taken initially by Kevin Anderson saw Jed press and run at the Biggar defence. Some solid tackles saw Jed forced out at the corner and with that the end of the half.
With both sides keener not to lose than to win it was the defences that held sway after the break. Biggar opened well although the whistle interrupted play on more occasions than spectators or players wished. A 9th minute stramash from a scrum saw a red card brandished towards Biggar's Anderson. Happily this was a referee error and as the prop trudged discontentedly to the touchline the red was replaced with the yellow, much to the relief of all the Biggar support!
The penalty was kicked by Scott to tie the scores and with Biggar own by a man Jed had to take their chance to score. Their advantage lasted no longer then a few minutes however as following a neat passage of play from Muir, Notman and Fraley Hopa an infringement saw Jed have a man sent to the bin.
A third successful kick by McKeand gave Biggar another 3 point lead but given the fragility of much of the play and the fact that there was still a good 20 minutes remaining there were few present who thought that this would be the match winning score.
Scrums and lineouts were fairly inconclusive as to which side was dominant, Biggar perhaps just edging the loose play although again without the conviction that had been their trademark earlier in the season. The loss of Anderson also proved problematic as it left Biggar without a recognised hooker and lineout specialist, although prop Scott Cameron deputised pretty well.
This last quarter was a fairly nervy period as both sides sought to clinch the game. Spilled passes, knock-ons and missed touch kicks were very much the order of the day, Jed's Scott going for a drop goal but missing and Biggar unable to get close enough to the Jed line for another possible penalty.
With the gloom descending a loud and relief-laden cheer was raised by all from Biggar as the game came to its end.
This result brought to a very timely end a very unhappy 4 game losing run. Although this weekends opponents Peebles were beaten, they have enjoyed a much better period recently and will be desperate to avenge their early season defeat at the Gytes by a Biggar XV which was then on top form. Had Biggar been beaten by Jed then things would have been very much more difficult but the players can take some confidence with this latest result.
An interesting post-script to the games on Saturday was that while flanker Alan Warnock was named as Biggar's man of the match, his brother Neil was awarded that same distinction for the Peebles XV. And to think that both boys will be head-to-head on Saturday!!
Biggar
Douglas Notman, Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Conor Lavery, Chris McKeand ; Sam Muir (captain), David Reive; Kevin Anderson, Michael Dunlop, Scott Cameron, Fraley Hopa, Grant Owens Andrew Cairns, Alan Warnock, Jason Kelly. Substitutes - Hugh Green, James Green, Colin Arthur, Iain Renwick
5/12/09
Dunfermline 19 Biggar 17
Biggar slumped to their 3rd consecutive league defeat against bottom side Dunfermline who as a result recorded just their second league win this season, their only other triumph being against Border side Jedforest who coincidentally are Biggar's next opponents!!
Having played well enough to win two games in the first half against GHA last week, Biggar travelled to Fife determined to get their season back on track. Having defeated Dunfermline by 28-15 back in September, Biggar knew that this was achievable although the size of the Fife pack had been a concern in the first meeting of the sides, Biggar superior fitness on that day serving them well towards the end of the contest.
Coach Ants Posa made a few changes for this latest game, Michael Dunlop making his first league appearance at hooker, and centre Douglas Notman making a return after an appearance last week for the 2nds, this after a shoulder injury sustained against Stirling County back in September also.
On a sticky, heavy pitch (the 2nd XV game was postponed due to their pitch being unplayable), Biggar opened strongly with some promising surges from Scott Cameron and Kevin Anderson, these leading to possession in the Dunfermline half and the award of a penalty which Notman converted to put his side 3-0 up.
This was relatively short-lived as the host XV gave note of their forward power with a textbook driven line which had Biggar on the back foot and which led to a try. Although the conversion was missed this was a warning of what was to become a favourite tactic for the Fife side. The pitch and Biggar's relative size meant that the Biggar XV would spend much of the day on the defensive.
Winger Andrew Goodall was then forced off following an asthma like attack, his place going to Chris McKeand who had initially been unavailable due to exam commitments. Alistair Browning moved to wing to accommodate McKeand's appearance.
As Dunfermline managed to exert scrum pressure Andrew Peacock came on to replace Dunlop with Anderson moving to hooker. This helped Biggar as they sought to stem Dunfermline and with another foray into their hosts 22 a training ground move saw Simeon James cross for an excellent try. Unfortunately, and as it turned out, crucially, the conversion was missed although this meant that Biggar went in at half time ahead by 8-5.
Much of this second period was fairly even, although there was always the danger that Dunfermline would be able to use their pack to good effect as Biggar tried sometimes in vain, to kick themselves clear of their lines. A couple of penalties were converted and this increased the lead to 14-5.
A slightly unlucky Notman was then sent to the sin bin, the referee adjudging that his tackle was dangerous and this again forced coach Posa into a change of plan, the centre having been due to give way to Conor Lavery.
As it was the pressure that Dunfermline was able to exert from the resultant penalty, and others, paid off, a series of close scrums and line drives though initially thwarted by some stout Biggar defence almost inevitably leading to a try being awarded. The conversion kicked and the score 14-12.
A third Biggar penalty ensured that they entered the last quarter ahead and with a score between the two sides Biggar should have been able to hold on but when things are against you, these simple tasks are much easier said then done, never mind the fact that the Fife side were sensing a rare win.
The script followed an all too familiar theme, the introduction of one Dunfermline replacement helping their cause no end as he was easily the biggest player a-field and able though not particularly fit to add even more bulk to the Dunfermline scrum, ruck and maul.
Another series of driving plays took Biggar onto their goal line and a final surge took play over the line and obviously clear enough for the try to be awarded, and this in the final minute of some 6 long minutes of extra time.
The try drew the score at 17-17 but the successful conversion gave Dunfermline their win, and although Biggar claimed a losing bonus point, it was not what they wished. This was an opportunity lost and means that the next two games take on much added significance.
Jedforest are first up and despite Biggar's early season win at Hartreemill the Border side have always been a bit of a bogey side for Biggar and as they are in third lasts pot they twill be ultra keen to take full advantage of Biggar's doldrums to take the points and so climb a little clearer of the relegation spot.
Next up after that is Peebles at Hartreemill. Having just recorded a fine away win over Aberdeen, they too will be gunning for Biggar. Ironically, the month of October was identified early season as being a decisive month for Biggar, but in actual fact, having come through that test fairly well, it has been November (and hopefully just November!), that has been Biggar's undoing.
Biggar
Alistair Browning, Andrew Goodall, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Michael McKeand ; Sam Muir (captain), David Reive; Kevin Anderson, Michael Dunlop, Scott Cameron, Fraley Hopa, Andrew Cairns, Grant Owens, Hugh Green, Jason Kelly. Substitutes - Chris McKeand, James Green, Andrew Peacock, Conor Lavery
28/11/09
Biggar 26 GHA 34
This was the epitome of ' a game of two halves', Biggar storming into a 4 try to1 half-time lead after which things went spectacularly wrong, GHA taking full advantage to score 4 tries of their own to win and deny Biggar a losing bonus.
Following on from two consecutive defeats this was another body blow for Biggar, and although they remain mid-table they now find themselves well adrift from the top two.
Selection was on tried and trusted lines with a strong line up to face a GHA side whom Biggar had brushed aside in their first encounter back in September. Not that there was any complacency from the Biggar camp as GHA have had a run of good wins beating (as Biggar have) Aberdeen Grammar and Kirkcaldy in recent weeks. In addition the pack, which has been second best to both Gala and Kelso, were in determined mood.
In grand conditions, the pitch having recovered remarkably well after the heavy rain, the game kicked off at 1pm to allow all to view the Scotland international later in the afternoon, which disappointingly followed a similar pattern.
GHA gave immediate note of their intent with a finely judged cross kick from stand off James Noonan, this collected well by winger Ruairi O'Keefe for the opening try. A confident restart and Biggar clawed their way upfield earning a brace of penalties in the process. These were kicked to touch and Biggar employed a profitable catch and drive, which ended with prop Scott Cameron crossing for an equalising try. Chris McKeand's conversion put Biggar 7-5 ahead.
A series of penalties were then awarded this again seeing Biggar work the touchline for Cameron's fellow prop Kevin Anderson to score. Another McKeand conversion and Biggar were 14-5 up. With a quarter of the game gone things were definitely looking promising. GHA's frustration increased, as they were soon backing on the defensive as Biggar again probed. A warning regarding the number of penalties they were conceding was then carried out as hooker Ina Nelson was sent to the sin bin.
With their visitors short-handed Biggar took full advantage with another two quick scores. Hugh Green was the first to score, his try coming after an initial drive was held up. With an attacking scrum Green picked up to dive over, McKeand's conversion taking Biggar ahead at 19-5.
On 35 minutes a number of phases saw ball well retained by the Biggar XV, winger Andrew Goodall benefiting from a fine line break by Simeon James for arty which McKeand again converted for 26-5.
There were many present who thought at this point that the game was almost over - but few were wearing the GHA colours! Despite another Biggar surge which almost resulted in a fifth score, the visitors managed to finish the half strongly, their cause aided following their return to a full complement and as Biggar were reduced to 14 after Cameron was sent to the bin after several off-sides. Indeed GHA almost got the ball down for a second score, the referee deeming correctly that the Biggar defence had managed to hold the attack and ball up. This coincided with half time.
The game then took a quite dramatic turn, GHA resuming with the stern words of their coach ringing in their ears and taking the game by the proverbial scruff of the neck.
With Cameron still off the GHA pack took quick control, a try coming after a touch kick and line drive, Ian Nelson credited with the score. Stand-ff Noonan added the conversion and the scoreboard had hardly been changed before the visitors scored again, this try coming after scrum half and captain Andrew Gillman chipped accurately to the chasing Jamie Pinder to run onto and score. The conversion and a penalty were both missed but from 26-5 to 26-17, and it was most definitely game on.
Try as they could Biggar failed to cope with a rejuvenated GHA pack who exerted as much pressure on their hosts as they had soaked up prior the break. Add to that the kicking of the GHA half backs and Biggar were pinned down in their own half.
Another GHA line drive almost led to a score but the referee was qucik to spot a foreard pass in the lead up to the 'score' but a 4th try was merely delayed and came following some uncharacteriscally poor midfield defence, Gilman and Noonan combining well to set Chris Binnie on a run to the line and under the posts for a try which Noonan predictably converted for 26-24.
With some 25 minutes left Biggar had to score to tie the match up but for a full half an hour they had been under the cosh and such a score looked unlikely. And so it proved though one promising move did eventually founder following a forward pass when in the GHA 22.
The half ended much as it had begun and with GHA to the fore once again, their fifth score being credited to Jamie Pinder after a good break out from defence.At 31-26 Biggar clung on to a losing bonus but even this was denied them as a knock-on in the line ceded possession to the visitors. The ball was immediately dispatched to the Biggar half where a penalty was awarded, Noonan kicking for the final score of 34-26.
A shell-shocked Biggar sqaud and coach must now regroup prior to two difficult away trips to Dunfermline and then Jedforest. The Fife side have won just once but given this latest display Biggar must go and win to regain their confidence and winning habit. Jed who in what is a disappointing season to date are always a very difficult side at home and have of course already beaten Biggar at Hartreemill.
C. McKeand, M. McKeand, S. James, A. Browning, A. Goodall, S. Muir (Capt), D Reive, K. Anderson, M. Rutherford, S. Cameron, F. Hopa, G. Owens, A. Cairns, H. Green, J. Kelly. Reps : all used, A. Warnock, A. Peacock, C. Lavery, C. Thomson.
21/11/09
Kelso 23 Biggar 0
Given the torrential rain of last week many were surprised that this game was not postponed, yet Kelso Races had taken place on Friday and the conditions at
Aside from their Bowl final appearance back in 1997 Biggar have rarely enjoyed success in any cup competition and they must wait another year to make amends for this most recent attempt. With last weeks league game against Kelso postponed and with no date set yet for its replay, it will be some time before we find out whether Kelso have improved so much from their early season form (Biggar triumphing by 31-9), but with a lowly league position and a possible relegation in the offing, the Cup was an opportunity for Kelso to regain confidence and to build for the league next week. They can scarcely have believed their luck as Biggar largely failed to turn up, lacking in drive and finding themselves thwarted by error and wrong option.
Indeed the last Biggar game resulted in a dismal performance at Gala and unfortunately this had much the same feel to it with the side failing to combat a committed Kelso XV, the pack in particular coming off second best but the side in general struggling to make use of the conditions on the day.
Coach Ants Posa was forced into several changes as unavailability and injury reduced his options once more, a nasty cheek injury to winger Scott Watson one of the most concerning. This means that he now has a very tidy back division sitting on the touchline. On a more positive note Cameron Thomson, who left Biggar for West of Scotland a couple of years ago, is now back in the fold and he made an appearance in the second half for Alistair Browning.
Playing into the gale in the first half Biggar managed to compete fairly well, with the objective of keeping Kelso in check largely achieved although at 8-0 down, scores and points had been conceded.
With the elements in their favour after the break Biggar had expected to play in the Kelso half but the Border side had very different ideas and with their pack in the ascendancy and growing in confidence as the game progressed, Biggar were constantly under pressure.
It was Kelso who added to their tally with further tries to record a good win. No trip therefore to Howe of
Biggar must now quickly regroup and plan for Saturday when GHA visit Hartreemill. An early season and fairly comfortable win over the Glasgow XV will mean little as GHA have managed to play some much better rugby of late, recording wins against Aberdeen Grammar, Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline in recent weeks and running Gala close as well.
7/11/09
Gala 16 Biggar 6
Having managed to recover from a couple of defeats last month and to win away at Kirkcaldy and at home against Aberdeen there was an expectation that Biggar would manage to overcome a Gala XV which has been struggling through injury and some inconsistent form. Not that there was a suggestion of complacency, because Netherdale has never been an easy place to win, but rather that the form shown by Biggar against
In the event however, Biggar largely failed to turn up and were a clear second to Gala in terms of scrum ball, loose play and defence. Indeed the match programme alluded to Gala's win against GHA coming as a result of their 'best defensive performance of the season' and full of 'guts and determination'. This was very definitely a repeat performance with few Biggar players managing to break the line. Sam Muir is the one obvious exception to this, the diminutive stand-off making a telling break in each half, both of which deserved much better but both of which came to nought - a great frustration!
Biggar have managed to select from a largely unchanged XV in recent weeks and this was again the case on Saturday, with the only changes being on the bench where the luckless Lewis McLachlan gave way to Alan Warnock and Bob Aitken returned for Iain Renwick.
The
While this opportunity failed this was of little concern as Biggar maintained their territorial advantage with a run from fullback Chris McKeand. Although stopped, a penalty gave the same player a chance to open the scoring, the kick confidently struck and giving Biggar a 3-0 lead with some 4 minutes on the clock.
Sadly this was to be one of the few really profitable attacking moves, much of the half going Gala's way.
Gala quickly crept into the game and although a penalty was awarded after a Biggar offside, play was brought back as a finely judged cross kick was collected by their winger who was then adjudged to have been offside when the ball was kicked. There was second let-off for Biggar as their fullback Graeme Speirs missed the resultant penalty kick.
Speirs made amends minutes later as Biggar were penalised for holding onto the ball in the tackle. 3-3. Biggar opted to deliver a series of box and cross kicks in this half and while these had worked pretty well the previous week, they were far less affective against Gala whose back three managed to take ball whilst the Biggar attack swept down upon them. On other occasions the kicks were too long and/or straight to the players covering back. Speirs added a second penalty just at the end of the first quarter as Biggar struggled to get to grips with referee Nick Cockburn from
Of course it is rarely how many penalties are awarded but instead the timing of these penalties, Biggar suffered considerably on the half hour mark as they lost the services of hooker Michael Rutherford for persistent infringements, this coming at the end of a very successful driven lineout by Gala.
Speirs missed again but Gala took full advantage of the fact that Biggar were shorthanded and disrupted the Biggar scrum, marching them back for 5 metres on two occasions. That Gala did not score from either of these was down as much to their reluctance to part with the ball and pass to the wide player, Speirs ignoring a clear overlap and being felled by Biggar's No 15 Chris McKeand.
A score was merely delayed however, another Gala lineout drive ending with Graeme Bryce crossing under a pile of bodies for the try. Speirs missed the conversion but at 11-3 and just prior to the break, this was another body blow for Biggar, though nothing less than Gala deserved.
Had Biggar managed to weather Gala's opening spell after the break they may well have been able to creep back into the game but this was not to be, Gala using their forward power and numerical advantage to again drive Biggar back, Chris Weir touching down for a try which again went unconverted.
A fortnight ago at Kirkcaldy, Biggar had shown great spirit when they had managed to come back after being 13 points behind, but on that day there was a spark about their play. Saturday was a little different, Biggar seemingly lack-lustre in approach and the Gala defence very effective.
The next Gala attack took play to the Biggar 5m line where a bravely taken quick line with Muir and Michael McKeand involved saw Biggar escape the immediate clutches of the Gala attack and make progress upfield. Murray Thomson came on at stand-off as Biggar tried to get back into the game, other changes seeing Kevin Anderson re-introduced, Alan Warnock replace Hugh Green who was struggling with a leg injury and Bob Aitken replace Goodall.
Muir was trying everything he could to increase the pace of the Biggar game and this eventually paid of as he made ground deep into the Gala 22 where another penalty from Chris McKeand gave Biggar a slim hope of sneaking a losing bonus or even a win. The side did manage to raise their game and they did creep more into things - more so when Weir was yellow carded - but the Gala defence was such that ground won was measured in inches rather than feet or better still yards. In addition by hitting rucks in numbers Gala did all they could to slow ball down which again reduced the pace of the game and which ensured their defence was back in pace and on top. In fact Biggar scarcely took a turnover, while Gala profited on several occasions as their support was quicker to the breakdown.
Biggar were also very unfortunate to be penalised when a fine piece of support play by Bob Aitken led to a scrum when he appeared to have taken a great off-load from McKeand and which looked as though it would take play right to the Gala line.
All was to end in nought however, Gala running the clock down to end as winners.
This was a big disappointment for the team and means that they drop back to 4th spot, but crucially they are now 6 points adrift of second placed Hawick. It would be very important that Biggar bounce back immediately this latest reversal and with Kelso visitors to Hartreemill on Saturday, a side who are currently struggling, this would an appropriate opportunity.
A worrying post-script to the game was that Murray Thomson spent Saturday night in Wishaw General following a concussion sustained in what was effectively the last play of the game. Resources will be tested again as a result.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Andrew Goodall, Alistair Browning, Simeon James, Michael McKeand; Sam Muir (Capt), David Reive; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Kevin Anderson, Fraley Hopa, Andrew Cairns, Hugh Green, Grant Owens, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Andrew Peacock, Alan Warnock, Murray Thomson, Bob Aitken.
31/10/09
Biggar 29 Aberdeen Rugby 18
Biggar hosted Aberdeen Rugby on Saturday and with both teams in the top four of Premier 2, the scene was set for a real test for both sides, Biggar having of course the all-important home advantage.
That the game, played in almost perfect conditions, was a fantastic contest full of power, pace, commitment and excitement is testament to all 41 players and officials involved. All of this meant that this was one of the best games to be seen at Hartreemill for many months and a great advert for rugby football!
Biggar were able to select from a largely injury free squad, albeit that Douglas Notman is still out with shoulder damage and that Alan Warnock is recovering from a troublesome leg injury. The pack was the same as that which started at Kirkcaldy while there was only one change in the three-quarters, this seeing Michael McKeand start at wing, with Murray Thomson dropping to the 2nds.
Biggar had the perfect start as right from the kick-off, they ran with great pace, shifting the ball right where Andrew Goodall made ground before setting ball up well. David Reive turned ball back left and three passes later, from Sam Muir to Chris McKeand and then to Michael Rutherford, it was the hooker who made the last 5 metres to the try line for a great score. Better still as Chris McKeand added the conversion for 7-0.
This preceded a massive first quarter when Biggar could do little wrong and Aberdeen could do little to escape from their half. Try as they did to clear ball up-field Biggar ran or kicked possession back with great determination and power, the next score coming from another thrust in midfield with Andrew Peacock making a real crowd-pleasing surge for 15 metres deep into the Aberdeen 22. A neat off-load and Reive crossed for a cracking try, which McKeand converted for 14-0.
As a start with just 7 minutes on the board this was breathtaking rugby, Aberdeen still very much trying to get into the game and trying to rid themselves of their long journey south.
Hard as Aberdeen tried they could simply not escape the Biggar attack, one run from defence by their stuffy centre Billy Russell seeing him quickly dispossessed and play swiftly taken back to the Aberdeen 22. Simeon James launched the next foray, this ending with Fraley Hopa being pushed into touch just feet from the try line. McKeand converted a penalty and Biggar stretched their lead to 17-0.
An Alistair Browning tackle in midfield followed by a neatly judged angle on a kick to the Aberdeen 22 from the same player, a searing run by McKeand, a typically evasive run by the influential Muir and a second 'near miss' as ball was spilled within striking range all promised much but ion fact Biggar had to settle for another penalty and a 20-0 lead as play approached the half hour mark.
Inevitably for a team, which has recorded 6 wins (including a 48-17 thrashing of 2nd place side Hawick), Aberdeen were always likely to come back into things. Allied to this it would have been asking an awful lot for Biggar to be able to sustain such a pace, and so gradually, the visitors crept into the game, much of their possession and play centring around their flanker Ali Robertson who stifled several Biggar attacks with some solid defence, pilfering ball well at the same time.
A brace of penalties to Aberdeen gave them some field position before a third gave scrum half Rob Lawson a chance which he took to open his sides account. 20-3
With half time approaching there was a first passage of sustained play within the Biggar half, this ending with try scored somewhat ironically in almost identical circumstance to last week against Kirkcaldy. An Aberdeen line was stolen by Biggar (on this occasion by Jason Kelly), but the No 8 lost possession as he prepared to set ball back. Lawson whipped the ball to his supporting pack which made a tilt for the line in mid pitch. The attack was then switched back right where there was both space and numerical superiority, fullback Patrick Traylor crossing for an important score which Lawson converted for 20-10.
Always preferring to play towards the clubhouse after the break this meant that it was very much 'game on' for the second half, Biggar erring immediately on the restart via a couple of missed tackles. Aberdeen capitalised on this with a second score, this time for winger Mike Lieberum. Lawson could not add the conversion but from 20-0 the score was now 20-15 and barely 15 minutes playing time had elapsed. The restart went straight to touch and so the initiative was firmly handed back to the visitors whose heads were definitely up and looking for more.
This next score was always going to be crucial and as Michael McKeand took a good mark, James and Chris McKeand made important runs out of defence (the latter seeing some great support from Browning) it was Biggar who earned another penalty opportunity for McKeand as Grammar crept offside. This the fullback accepted, the kick taking Biggar ahead at 23-15 - this very importantly in excess of a 7-point losing bonus point for Aberdeen.
Lewis McLachlan and Kevin Anderson had been introduced to the fray, and these two made their presence felt with, respectively, some great offensive/defence and with an uplifting burst of some 20 metres through the Aberdeen defence. Unfortunately neither of these resulted in tries, the Aberdeen defence being a match although a penalty was conceded and kicked by McKeand for 26-15 - a two-try deficit.
This was an important score as from a deep drop out Biggar got into a tangle and conceded a penalty of their own that Lawson kicked for 26-18. Biggar then suffered a major blow as McLachlan dislocated his shoulder - the very one which he has recently had pinned. That this happened again was in itself a massive disappointment, but to have it happen not in a tackle but instead as he (successfully) reached Browning 's restart, and therefore without a collision, is all the more frustrating. McLachlan has been back for just a handful of games, but is now set to miss another large part of the season until he can build up the joint once again.
With some 10 minutes remaining Aberdeen still had time and opportunity to reduce the deficit but thankfully it was Biggar who virtually sealed the win with a fifth strike for McKeand to take the score to 29-15. There was also still time for Biggar to bring Iain Renwick and Scott Watson into the game, both making their mark on the proceedings.
And so Biggar leapfrog Aberdeen to take third spot in premier 2, led by Stirling and Hawick, the two sides relegated from last season. October was always going to be tough and with that month now over, a few hurdles have been met head on and deflected. Bottom line is that there is no side which Biggar have to fear.
The league fixtures continue this weekend as Biggar travel to Gala. Supporters should note that this game remains as a 3pm kick-off, this as the game will be played under floodlights.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Andrew Goodall, Alistair Browning, Simeon James, Michael McKeand; Sam Muir (Capt), David Reive; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Andrew Peacock, Fraley Hopa, Andrew Cairns, Hugh Green, Grant Owens, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Kevin Anderson, Iain Renwick, Michael McKeand, Lewis McLachlan.
24/10/09
Kirkcaldy 13 Biggar 27
Biggar's top two senior sides returned home on Saturday having collected all the points from their league games, this a happy return to winning ways following the disappointment of the past three weeks when league points have been hard to come by and league position has been lost. This was also in sharp contrast to last season and therefore some payback, when Biggar 1sts were soundly beaten by their Fife hosts in the SHE cup.
Things could have been so very different however as with a quarter of the game gone Biggar were trailing by 13-0 and in all truth looked a little ragged. It was a much better second quarter then when the Biggar pack came to terms with their counterparts and started to provide some much tidier ball for their backs which set the scene for a good second half. Even then, had the normally very reliable Quintan Sanft notched a kickable penalty, or managed to hold on to what was a 'try' (the ball evading his and fellow centre Gillies hands as they dived together for the ball rolling toward the Biggar line) Biggar would have had a much less convincing result.
With Michael Rutherford fit again to resume at hooker, coach Ants Posa preferred Andrew Peacock at prop for Kevin Anderson (Colin Arthur dropping down to the 2nds), while Fraley Hopa started at lock. In the backs it was all change again, returning newly-wed Sam Muir recalled at stand-off, Alistair Browning pairing up with Simeon James at centre and with Andrew Goodall and Murray Thomson fielded on the wings.
The opening exchanges had Kirkcaldy in the driving seat, although the first penalty opportunity fell to Biggar, Chris McKeand pushing the ball to the right of the posts. Otherwise, while Biggar took ball on in determined fashion, some unforced errors in contact meant that possession and territory were lost. There was some hope for Biggar however as the Kirkcaldy lineout was not functioning particularly well, ball being stolen by Biggar and doing much to thwart the Kirkcaldy pressure. It was ironic then that the first score came from a poor Kirkcaldy line. Ball had been stolen by Biggar and tapped back but into a gap through which the Fife No 8 Craig Wilson pounced. Having made good yards the ball was fed out left and given to winger Jordan Webster who burst through at full tilt to cross under the posts, making the conversion academic for Sanft. 7-0 Kirkcaldy.
With the game barely restarted Sam Muir was penalised for a challenge on Sanft who needed no second invitation to add the 3 points for a 10 point lead.
The Biggar No 9 then made a half break but a knock on from Browning who hit the line at pace saw this move break down. Goodall then made a great tackle as the Kirkcaldy backs made good ground on the left, a subsequent challenge by Kelly then seeing the No8 sent to the sin bin, this allowing Sanft to increase his side's lead to 13-0. Discipline had been a factor in last week's defeat by Hawick and at this stage it seemed that it might be Biggar's undoing again.
Few could have predicted that these would be the last points that Kirkcaldy would score however, though this in fact was the case, the Biggar XV upping their concentration and efforts to thereafter deny Kirkcaldy any further points, and this from a side which had been in control of the game up to that point.
An excellent run by Goodall for some 30 metres showed what real pace the youngster has, but two further penalties gave Kirkcaldy the chance to take play back into the Biggar half. The game entered a real see-saw period as both sides sought to run ball, this resulting in some very entertaining passages with Rutherford, Anderson (who had come on following the sin-binning of Kelly), Muir, McKeand and Goodall all involved.
On another occasion ball was moved quickly by Thomson to Browning, who then passed to James. His step made space for Goodall who managed to make the line for an excellent score. McKeand's conversion put Biggar right back into the game at 13-7.
Kelly returned in time to take the restart and his yards and a neat chip from James saw Biggar awarded another penalty, though McKeand couldn't quite find his target. The half came to an end with the game now much more finely balanced.
Biggar opened the half at a fast pace and following a penalty took their tally to 10, just 3 in arrears of their hosts, this perceived to be an all-important score. Unfortunately it wasn't long before Kirkcaldy had their first penalty chance. Eschewing the 3 points for a scrum, Biggar were under real pressure as the Kirkcaldy attack drove ball to the Biggar line. It appeared to all present that the grubber kick to the Biggar line would see Sanft score, but a mix up saw two Kirkcaldy players dive for the ball. Neither managed to get the required downward pressure, and the ball squirted forward into the hands of Kelly who chose to kick.
Biggar managed to regroup after this assault and sought to make changes, Reive making way for Muir who moved to scrum half, his place taken by Aaron Reid. Luck again had an impact on the game as the Kirkcaldy replacement hooker made a petulant throw of the ball at Grant Owens. The touch judge made reference to referee Balharry who then dispatched the Kirkcaldy man to the bin. A massive touch finder from McKeand from the penalty took play to within metres of the Kirkcaldy line where Biggar sought to drive via the pack for a try. McLachlan, Thomson and Rutherford all made progress before a scrum was awarded. Good possession from here saw ball moved wide, an inside pass finding Reid who made the last few yards for a timely score. McKeand added the points for 17-13.
An excellent Browning take from the restart and subsequent yards from the midfield and then a kick and chase with McKeand to the fore, took play to within metres of the Ayr line. A penalty then allowed McKeand to take Biggar clear at 20-13, meaning that Kirkcaldy would require two scores to take the points. Another great restart this time from Kelly who in turn off-loaded to Hugh Green paved the way for another Biggar attack but a massive up and under from Kirkcaldy meant Biggar were once again back into their 22 when the inevitable penalty was awarded. Biggar have watched Sanft convert many such kicks in his time at Hartreemill but no-one wanted this to be successful and unusually the wee Samoan missed it to the right.
Scott Cameron who had picked up a dead leg in the opening minutes then retired with Peacock his replacement. This was followed shortly afterwards as Michael McKeand came on to replace Goodall.
A Green pick up was driven forward by McLachlan before ball was shipped right for James to score Biggar's third try. The conversion for 27-13 was kicked and Biggar were almost clear. There remained some tense moments in the game yet however as Kirkcaldy sought to take a bonus point. A series of drives after a re-start error saw Kirkcaldy set up camp on the Biggar line where a number of assaults were only just repelled - one particular thumping tackle from McLachlan taking the eye. It did appear that Sanft had managed to score but fortunately for Biggar referee Balharry was unsighted and could not award the try. In a final fling for the points Kirkcaldy were again thwarted, the final whistle met with a resounding cheer from the large travelling support.
This was a better performance from Biggar. To come from 13-0 down was a test of character and one which the boys met head on. It will not be often that they manage such a reversal however, and the team must hit the ground running this weekend as Aberdeen will not be as generous.
Kirkcaldy will be rightly disappointed with this result, especially as they also lost out last week to GHA (who on Saturday also did for Aberdeen Grammar in Aberdeen). Grammar are down at Hartreemill this weekend so if Biggar could take the points this time then they would move back up to 3rd or perhaps even 2nd in the table. All spectators should note that the game kicks off an hour earlier at 2pm.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Andrew Goodall, Alistair Browning, Simeon James, Murray Thomson; Sam Muir (Capt), David Reive; Scott Cameron, Michael Rutherford, Andrew Peacock, Fraley Hopa, Andrew Cairns, Hugh Green, Grant Owens, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Kevin Anderson, Aaron Reid, Michael McKeand, Lewis McLachlan.
17/10/09
Biggar 19 Hawick 31
Biggar suffered their second consecutive defeat on Saturday against a competent Hawick XV who in the end, aside from playing better, were a little more streetwise than their hosts.
Making another round of, in total 8 changes, Biggar welcomed Andrew Peacock into the front row in what was his first start of the season. Injury to Alan Warnock led to a late but ultimately successful fitness test for Jason Kelly who made a return after a 3-week absence at No8, while David Robertson retained his place at lock, this leading to Stuart Coubrough dropping down to the 2nds whom he captained. Another to make a return was Fraley Hopa who started on the bench, this also after an enforced absence due to injury. In the backs Murray Thomson made his first league appearance of the season at stand-off, while the unavailable Alistair Browning was replaced by Andrew Goodall who made the side courtesy of a number of impressive performances in the 2nd XV. Scott Watson also returned to the side to replace the injured Douglas Notman, with Michael McKeand moving infield from wing to centre.
In what were perfect conditions, and in front of a big and vocal crowd, Hawick had the much better start as they attacked and kept Biggar pinned down into their own 22. Neil Renwick (son of ex-Scotland legend Jim) opened the scoring with a penalty after a Simeon James shoulder charge in midfield. Hawick piled on the pressure and probably should have added to their tally but for a reluctance to put the ball wide, one clear overlap ignored as the Biggar defence was stretched wide. Instead they had to wait until the end of the first quarter when, having again put their hosts under pressure, the Biggar defensive line crept offside, Renwick again adding the points for 6-0.
Throughout the half, the game was punctuated by the whistle, the referee blowing too quickly for both sides when the advantage was in the offing. Biggar suffered considerably, several decisions going against them when had play been allowed to continue, they might well have been able to clear their lines effectively. As it was they managed to maintain their hold on the game via some solid tackling and the powerful runs out of defence from Kelly, Hugh Green, Chris McKeand and Goodall, with the packs efforts in the tight an awful lot more solid then in recent weeks.
The first try of the day fell to Hawick and came as the Hawick three-quarters ran at pace, Renwick finishing off the move by breeching the Biggar line for a try under the posts which he then converted for 13-0.
Biggar made one telling break as Hopa made a good turnover in midfield, his off-load to Grant Owens unfortunately going astray, but with lots of space ahead.
Renwick missed one penalty but took his side clear at 16-0 from another penalty, this coming on the stroke of half time.
Despite the lead, there was plenty of optimism within the Biggar ranks that they would be able to get back into the game in the second half.
This was indeed the case as Biggar applied some real pressure on Hawick, keeping them pinned in their 22. A free kick decision to Biggar following a series of awards to Hawick was met with ironic cheers from the Biggar support, this taken quickly with Scott Cameron on a charge. His break took him clean through the first line of defence and while play was taken deep into the Hawick 22 a penalty was Biggar's only reward.
Once more on the attack, a turnover in midfield had Biggar retreating at pace following a clearance from the Hawick stand-off. Lewis McLachlan tidied up well to retain possession and shortly afterwards Biggar were able to resume the attack, a penalty award for off-side giving Chris McKeand his first kicking opportunity. Unfortunately, this was pushed right.
The restart to this penalty saw ball taken well by Kevin Anderson who made good ground. The ball was then moved left where Goodall was just pushed into touch. A similar fate saw Scott Watson also pushed into touch, this as he prepared to dive for the line after some good work by the three-quarters, a neat flick from James getting the ball to Watson.
A squint lineout from Hawick, one of several in the game, ceded Biggar possession and then a penalty award gave scrum half and captain David Reive a chance to tap and feed Cameron whose burst took him over the line. McKeand's conversion put Biggar on the scoreboard.
A Kelly take on the restart and a James counter took play back into the Hawick half. A second penalty attempt to McKeand saw the fullback just miss, but a second Biggar score was merely delayed. Hopa took a good lineout ball, and Thomson made an initial break from stand-off. Green carried the ball to within 5 metres of the line but some firm tackling by the Hawick defence seemed to have stopped the move. Ball was, however, transferred to prop Peacock who barged over from close range - 2 props and 2 tries! McKeand added the points from the conversion and at 16-14 it was anyone's game. The next score was always going to be crucial as the balance of play had turned and Biggar were clearly in the ascendancy.
A dropped pass with, again, lots of space denied Biggar another tilt at the Hawick 22, but worse was to follow for the home side as they were then stretched wide with Michael Graham freed to outstrip the Biggar defence for a score in the corner. Renwick was off target with the difficult conversion but made amends minutes later as he countered from a chip ahead by Reive. Unfortunately he spoiled an excellent day by feigning a trip by McKeand who was metres away from him and who was then given then a yellow card and sent to the bin. Harsh indeed.
The Hawick man then kicked the resultant penalty to put his side clear at 24-14. Biggar now became increasingly frustrated as they sought to chase the game. Hopa was then also binned for a shoulder charge, this having a fairly major effect on the Biggar scrum which lost ball against the head and allowed Hawick to again counter. A blindside break and chip by Dean McCracken took play to the Biggar 22 where a perfect bounce (for Hawick) saw the ball evade the Biggar defence and fall into the arms of the kicker who ran in for a try which Renwick again converted for 31-14.
Able to maintain their territorial advantage, a forward pass in the corner led to a 'try' by No 8 Matt Landels being chalked off.
Not to be outdone Biggar came back into things again, ball worked well to the left via Thomson, Kelly and then James who fed Goodall, the youngster managing to cross in the corner but just too far out for the conversion. This was to be the final score, Biggar again unable to claim a losing bonus point.
Given the possession they enjoyed Hawick deserved their win, Biggar's discipline, which this year has hitherto, been excellent, letting them down a little as they allowed themselves to be upset by some indifferent calls at crucial times - a salutary lesson!
Deke Armstrong who previously played and coached at Biggar was pleased with his sides win, particularly when the game was so evenly poised at 16-14. Had Biggar managed to score again at that point the result, he acknowledged, might have been very different.
Biggar now drop down to 5th spot, their nearest rivals, bar their next opponents Kirkcaldy, all recording wins. The weekend's trip to Beverdige Park takes on another dimension again in the light of these results, particularly as the Fife side recorded a convincing SHE Cup win over Biggar last season. Biggar will of course cross swords with ex-player Quintan Sanft who is player-coach to the Fife side. Biggar will need no reminding of the need to retain discipline as Sanft was a top points scorer in Biggar colours and is still kicking the points for Kirkcaldy.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Andrew Goodall, Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Scott Watson; Murray Thomson, David Reive (captain); Scott Cameron, Kevin Anderson, Andrew Peacock, David Robertson, Andrew Cairns, Hugh Green, Grant Owens, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Colin Arthur, Ian Renwick, Farely Hopa, Lewis McLachlan.
10/10/09
Stirling County 30 Biggar 21
Biggar lost their unbeaten record and their lead at the top of Premier 2 on Saturday when they succumbed to this defeat by Stirling County. That Biggar took nothing from the game and didn't manage to collect a losing bonus was as disappointing because while Stirling were the better side, Biggar competed well throughout and were right in the game until the last 10 minutes or so when a series of penalties and drop goals were enough to seal the Stirling victory.
A very pleasing aspect however was the manner in which Biggar competed, this so much more positive than last weeks game against Haddington when the players failed to match the standards they had set in the earlier games.
With Fraley Hopa, Jason Kelly and Sam Muir still unavailable coach Ants Posa had further selection headaches when Michael Rutherford and Andrew Cairns both succumbed to injury. This led to call-ups for David Robertson at lock and for Stewart Wright who joined Mark Fowler, Ian Renwick and Lewis McLachlan (making a return after many months in recuperation following a shoulder operation) on the bench. In the backs Alistair Browning replaced Scott Watson on the wing.
Playing against the breeze Stirling gave early note of their power and pace in taking Biggar onto the defensive although Biggar, via a Chris McKeand penalty, drew first blood. To further complicate matters stand-off Aaron Reid aggravated a hamstring injury in these opening exchanges and was forced off the field, Michael McKeand moving to stand-off while Renwick played on the wing.
It was not long before Stirling replied to Biggar's opening score, a big scrum on the 5-metre mark allowing scrum half Gordon McRorie to pick up and dash over for an opportunist effort which kicker Brian Archibald very unusually failed to convert.
The Stirling pack was causing Biggar no end of problems at this stage and after further pressure within the Biggar 22 a penalty award was successfully converted by Archibald for 8-5. Stirling continued to press and had their handling been a bit sharper they could well have increased their lead but a number of forward passes, much to the annoyance of the home crowd, saw them pulled back. Try as they could Biggar struggled to break this stranglehold, any kicking they did being punished as the touch kicking of the home side sent Biggar scurrying back into their own 22.
Biggar did make ground via the pace of their game, quick tap penalties from Davy Reive and lineouts from Scott Cameron being used to good effect to break the County rhythm. On another occasion a spoiled scrum ball saw the County backs in some disarray as Biggar harried their opponents. The result saw McKeand convert a penalty for offside.
Archibald replied with a similar effort following an obstruction as Reive seemed to go clear from the scrum base and then Biggar lost the services of centre Douglas Notman who was injured in a pile up of bodies. Taken off on a stretcher and then ambulance he has damaged his collar bone and is likely to be out until Christmas - this a cruel blow for someone who has been playing so consistently well this season.
Biggar had then to withstand a sustained passage of County pressure as they opted to use forward power to smash at the Biggar line, a series of pick and drives their tactic. Earlier on it had seemed that their backs had been running well using pace and good angles to tax the Biggar defence and had they spread the ball wide they might have had more success, however throughout this latest assault Biggar's close defence held firm a penalty award their reward as County No 8 Barsanti held on in the tackle. Half time then and the game finely poised at 11-6 to County.
Biggar were on the defensive from the restart which they failed to control the kick off, County stand-off Stuart Edwards striking the upright with a drop-goal attempt - a let-off for the visitors.
Biggar now had Ian Renwick at stand-off and Michael McKeand at centre, flanker Lewis McLachlan fielded on the wing, no less! Penalties were awarded at regular intervals as both sides strove to get some control on the proceedings, Barsanti the first and perhaps surprisingly the only player to be sin-binned. There is no doubt this gave Biggar a lift as he had taken ball on well from the scrum base and had been fairly effective in stopping Biggar attacks. As it was Biggar were able to immediately capitalise on his absence. A quickly taken penalty from Reive to his pack - this when most of the Biggar support would have opted for goal had they been given the choice - saw several promising thrusts to the County line. With ball being moved right, an inside pass found flanker Alan Warnock at pace to cut through the defensive remnants and cross for a great try. Converted by Mckeand Biggar took a 13-11 lead.
Unfortunately this was short-lived as County pressed immediately from the restart. On this occasion a driven line, with the bulkier County forwards in control, proved to be more successful than those prior to the break, their replacement Mark Hunter given the credit. Archibald converted to put his side back in charge at 18-13.
In what was becoming a very exciting contest Biggar then replied in positive fashion. Deprived of a steady platform from set-piece, Biggar had to rely on scraps of possession and on their ability to pressure the County backs. This they had done well and once again, this tactic paid dividends. An error following a Reive kick ahead saw Michael McKeand up really quickly to hack downfield. County fullback Robbie McGowan was then immersed in an all encompassing tackle by Renwick, the ball braking free from the ensuing ruck and bouncing toward the County line. Steaming up in support was David Robertson who beat the cover for another cracking score and one which tied the scores at 18 a-piece, McKeand just wide with the conversion.
It was clear that the last quarter would be a tense affair, County opting to kick for position and Biggar using quick ball to disrupt their hosts. Edwards then struck with a successful drop goal, this when a penalty was in the offing, and then Archibald took full advantage as Biggar were again penalised for holding in the tackle.
Renwick pulled off another excellent tackle as the County backs sped down the stand-side before Mark Fowler incurred the displeasure of touch-judge and referee following retaliation for a piece of unnecessary handiwork. Not to be outdone Biggar replied but with 9 points now separating the sides a losing bonus was all they could realistically aim for, although this was nothing less than they deserved. McKeand put that point within grasp with his 3rd penalty but as full time approached it was Edwards who once again put the bonus beyond Biggar with his second drop goal.
A first defeat but the side can take great credit for the way they played, this a huge leap from the disappointment following the Haddington game. Credit to all but particularly to those youngsters who rose to the challenge - Renwick, M. McKeand and McLachlan (on his return) to name but three.
The injuries to Notman and Reid are cruel blows for coach Posa although there was evidence a-plenty that there are players who will rise to the challenge if, and when, required. Of course the next game, against Hawick this Saturday, provides another massive challenge for Biggar. Three teams are now on 25 championship points, a slightly better points differential meaning that Aberdeen are ahead of Biggar who in turn are just ahead of Hawick. The absence of Conor Lavery and Bob Aitken who are both Down Under at Sam Muir's wedding is another consideration for Posa, and this of course will also impact on the 2nd XV who also face Hawick. A big support would also be very much appreciated. Incidentally, Stirling was probably the first time this season that the Biggar support has been outnumbered on the touchline, there being a relatively healthy attendance at Bridgehaugh, and one which ensured some entertaining verbal exchanges!
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Alistair Browning; Aaron Reid, David Reive (captain); Scott Cameron, Kevin Anderson, Scott Cameron, David Robertson, Stuart Coubrough, Hugh Green, Alan Warnock, Grant Owens. Replacements - Stuart Wright, Ian Renwick, Mark Fowler, Lewis McLachlan.
3/10/09 - Biggar 5 Haddington 5
Biggar maintained their lead in Premier 2 courtesy not of this hard fought draw with East Lothian side Haddington but instead by the surprise defeat of Stirling County by Glasgow strugglers GHA.
The result makes next Saturdays top-of-the-table clash at Bridgehaugh one of those unmissable contests in the rugby calendar.
Unable to field a trio of Kiwis because of injury and unavailability it was clear that Biggar were going to be tested by a rapidly improving Haddington who, having weathered an early season injury crisis themselves, are now looking much more like the side Biggar faced last season.
The selection saw the following changes - at lock, in place of Fraley Hopa, was Stuart Coubrough, Grant Owens replaced Jason Kelly at No 8 while Aaron Reid stood in for Sam Muir.
Having defeated local rivals Peebles in fine fashion last week many believed that Haddington at home would provide little opposition but as has been pointed out already, this is a very competitive Division with absolutely no easy games. Whatever the cause, and perhaps it is a case of Biggar having been spoiled so far this season with some good performances, the Biggar XV never seemed to get out of first gear on Saturday, their defence uncharacteristically poor before the break allied to some unforced errors, particularly when going into contact and losing possession.
The game was also dominated by the very blustery conditions, which, on one occasion, swept a seemingly accurate and touchline-bound clearance by visiting stand-off Callum Mark, right back over his head, resulting in Biggar being awarded a scrum five. Kicking was then a lottery and an option which the sides used sparingly.
Having won the toss Biggar opted to play with the elements in the first half which surprised many on the touchline, although had Reid been on target with two early long range penalty awards then things would have had a very different complexion. As it was though well struck the first slid left while the second dropped short. Pressure was maintained however as Biggar, via a deft chip from scrum half Davy Reive, were given another chance in the Haddington 22. On this third occasion the y opted for a scrum but as was the case last week the opposing scrum was up for the contest, poor ball seeing Chris McKeand scragged as Haddington put pressure on the attack. With the ball going loose it was Haddington who reacted quickest a mazy run by their three-quarters seeing the ball transferred the length of the pitch before Andy Scott took the scoring pass. In what was later to become an extremely crucial piece of play McKeand it was who managed to charged down Willie Haenga's conversion as the scrum half dawdled over his approach.
Play fluctuated around midfield as both teams vied for control of the game and it was Haddington who almost added to their total as missed tackles in midfield again saw them get within the Biggar danger area. With a magnificent and desperate last ditch tackle by Mckeand, Biggar somehow managed to hold the ball up over the line, referee David Changleng being called on, on another 3 occasions as Haddington continued to make a series of drives to the line. Happily from a Biggar point of view at any rate, each was halted and each taking play back for another scrum. This happened on no fewer than 4 occasions, and again had Haddington secured another until at last Biggar managed to secure possession to kick clear. Reive's kick took play to the Biggar 22 where a Biggar breakout by Michael McKeand saw the winger take the ball on a long and winding run to the Haddington 22. Unfortunately, as Biggar pressed and threatened, the half came to its end.
Two early penalties - one for a high tackle on prop Kev Anderson which left the wee man motionless for some time - gave Biggar some ground but again they were unable to make much else, until that is a half way steel saw ball well used by Reid to break up the left touchline. A neat jink and some neat interpassing saw ball transferred to Douglas Notman and then to C. McKeand who made the ground for a great try. Reid was just short with his kick - a difficult attempt from the touchline and across wind.
Biggar then enjoyed probably their best passage of play another breakout, this time with prop Scott Cameron to the fore but with a knock-on the only result. Haddington stand-off Mark then made a couple of errors with the boot, both ending with the ball going dead and with a scrum back from where it had been kicked. This ceded possession and territory and this was crucial the longer the day wore on.
Haddington had a chance to re-take the lead from a penalty but Haenga was off target. They managed however to maintain pressure via a judged knock-on in goal by M.McKeand who was caught out by the flight of the ball in the breeze. Reid then engineered another breakout from the Biggar 22, but while C. McKeand was up in support he couldn't break through while on the second with Cameron again bludgeoning his way upfield the ball was eventually knocked on and the impetus lost.
With time running out it became clear that any error might just provide a vital opening for one team to score, but play remained midfield. One clearance from Mark from his own 22 saw the ball go dead and a Biggar scrum on the Haddington 22 but this was virtually the last passage of play however, and although it looked to many that Biggar should have been awarded a penalty as the Haddington defence crept offside, a win at this stage would have been a real steal and scarcely deserved.
It was assumed that the draw would see Biggar drop off top spot as Stirling had the apparently straightforward task of disposing of GHA but this game also saw the top team shocked and as a result Biggar cling onto first place, the game on Saturday surely to be an exciting prospect. Whether Biggar will be able to call on either Kelly or Hopa is debatable but coach Ants Posa will be keen that his troops are in better shape for their trip north.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Aaron Reid, David Reive (captain); Kevin Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Scott Cameron, Andrew Cairns, Stuart Coubrough, Hugh Green, Alan Warnock, Grant Owens. Replacements - Colin Arthur, Alistair Browning, James Green and Conor Lavery.
26/9/09 - Peebles 13 Biggar 34
Chris focuses on reaching the line for one of his two tries and Jason hits the ball up to set up the maul.
Biggar recorded their biggest win over Peebles for many a year on Saturday with the brace of tries scored late in the game by Chris McKeand the icing on the cake and helping secure an all-important bonus point in the process.
Biggar travelled in search of a 5th straight win although fully prepared for what they believed would be their toughest task to date, a local derby against Peebles always being the sternest of tests and always very competitive up front. This proved to be exactly the case as the Peebles 8 caused all sorts of problems early in the tight scrum although their lineout was far less effective. The game was a physical, bruising encounter but one enjoyed by the very large crowd present on what was a glorious afternoon.
Lock Fraley Hopa made a return to the side after a head knock although Grant Owens was an absentee following an ankle injury.
The opening exchanges were frantic to say the least with no quarter given in the tackle and with both sides looking to spread the ball whenever they could. Biggar opened the scoring via a Chris McKeand penalty after 6 minutes, this after Peebles were caught offside. The same player then made an excellent mark following a neat Neil Warnock chip after Sam Muir was uncharacteristically caught in possession and turned over.
A penalty to Peebles saw them tie the score at 3-3, this kicked by Donald Anderson. Able to maintain a foothold in the Biggar half, a cracking run by Neil Hogarth almost resulted in the first try but some solid defence from McKeand, Scott Watson et al kept the line intact. While Peebles had the advantage in the tight, things were even elsewhere, the home side losing out via some unforced handling errors which ceded possession and territory to Biggar. At this stage both sides were playing some entertaining rugby, Biggar's featuring some sterling work from, among others Kevin Anderson, Jason Kelly, Mikey Rutherford and Muir.
A lineout break had Biggar struggling but a penalty for handling gave the visitors some respite. A penalty put Biggar ahead after 27 minutes, this again kicked by McKeand. The lead was short-lived however as almost from the restart Peebles were awarded a penalty after Hugh Green broke of the scrum early.
A long-range Steve Gee penalty would have put Peebles ahead but this fell short. Another chance for Peebles from a penalty came soon after but again this was missed being pulled left and so half time arrived with the scores tied at 6-6 and the game wide open.
Biggar turned with the cross-pitch breeze ever so slightly in their favour and they opened up in great style, a Kelly charge and off-load to McKeand seeing the fullback held up just 5m out. Pressure was maintained through runs by Anderson, Hopa and Kelly again before Simeon James took the ball at great pace to crash over for a crucial score. McKeand failed to add the points from the conversion but he did manage a 3rd penalty after Anderson was caught in possession following a Biggar break out.
A sustained passage of play and possession in Biggar's 22 saw another penalty awarded against Biggar, this after what seemed to be a massively long period of advantage from referee Johan Van Der Merwe. Although Peebles had made things really difficult for Biggar in the tight, the decision to take the scrum rather than what appeared to be a cast iron 3 points from the kick was a big surprise, and although the Peebles 8 again had Biggar on the back foot, a handling error in the backs again gave Biggar respite.
Alistair Browning, Stuart Coubrough and Aaron Reid replaced Scott Watson, Alan Warnock and Davy Reive at this point, Colin Arthur having been on and off with a twisted neck injury in the first half. Another loose ball when Peebles were in attack saw Reid, Kelly and Douglas Notman lead the Biggar breakout and preceded the second Biggar try, this after another good link from Kelly and James, the try scored by Notman who attacked the ball at pace to break the Peebles line.
For whatever reason Biggar really struggled at restarts on Saturday and this is such a crucial part of the game, as the side which scored and therefore receiving, can so easily lose the initiative if the ball is not taken cleanly. This was the case again on this restart Reid having his kick partially charged down to make matters worse. A handful of penalties for a variety of offences had many thinking that a yellow card would be shown to someone from Biggar, but Mr Van der Merwe seemed content to award the penalties without recourse to other sanctions.
Eventually after several prolonged thrusts to the Biggar line Donald Sangster managed to cross the line for a try, Gee kicking the conversion to take his side to within 6 points and one score at 19-13.
Biggar replied immediately through a surging run from prop Scott Cameron and Kelly which took Biggar within metres of the Peebles line but a penalty was the only reward on this occasion, McKeand kicking for 22-13.
Another poor restart gave Peebles territorial advantage but an error saw Rutherford emerge with the ball, the hooker managing to chip clear and also make a good first up tackle to keep Peebles pinned back in their own half. Under pressure from this latest Biggar attack, a weak clearance saw the ball bounce just inside the Peebles half, before sitting up perfectly for McKeand who took the ball flat out to then outstrip the Peebles defence to score a very good try in the right hand corner. With 5 minutes remaining there was some hope that Biggar might take a bonus point but Peebles responded well to again take play into the Biggar 22 where another series of penalties and some very sound forward drives had Biggar deep in defence.
A great turnover though by Kelly Green saw ball quickly recycled to Mckeand in the Biggar 22. Mckeand spotting the gap in defence brokeout and outstripped the Peebles defence to make another long run to the line for the bonus point winning score. Reid kicked the conversion for the 34 point tally.
There can be little doubt that this was an important result for Biggar who maintain their 100% record and take some comfort after a string of defeats at The Gytes. This is the first of a series of big games, the next month seeing Biggar take on all the other top sides in the division, Haddington who travel to Hartreemill this Saturday being the one exception.
Coach Ants Posa was fullsome in his praise of his charges but is still adamant that there are plenty of things to work on and to improve. His man of the match was hooker Rutherford while the side will be without Sam Muir for the next 3 weeks as he left on Sunday to return to NZ to be married. The fact that Biggar 1sts, 2nds and Colts all won on Saturday meant that Sam's stag night was given a great start!
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Sam Muir (captain), David Reive; Kevin Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Scott Cameron, Andrew Cairns, Fraley Hopa, Hugh Green, Alan Warnock, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Colin Arthur, Alistair Browning, Stuart Coubrough and Aaron Reid.
19/9/09 - Biggar 34 Jedforest 19
A win over 'bogey' side Jedforest and a heavy defeat of Hawick by Aberdeen Grammar promoted Biggar RFC to the top of Premier 2 on Saturday - a position which delighted all at Hartreemill, though all were equally aware that this latest scoreline perhaps flattered the Biggar side.
In addition, and while this win makes it four wins from four outings, it is clear that all four games have been against sides which are currently in the bottom half of the table. The next month then, when Biggar will face teams breathing down their neck will give a clearer indication of the level at which Biggar is operating.
Coach Ants Posa made a few changes to the starting XV this week as he rotates players in order to keep them all focused and involved. Bob Aitken moved to the bench after a great couple of weeks with Michael McKeand on, while in the pack the injured Fraley Hopa gave way to a second row pairing of Andrew Cairns and Grant Owens with Alan Warnock, Hugh Gibson and Jason Kelly forming the back row.
Jed came to Hartreemill smarting after a defeat to Dunfermline and a home draw with GHA, but with a proud record to uphold against Biggar having not lost in the past 6 years at least.
The game opened at a frantic pace with action a-plenty as the sides fought for control.
Douglas Notman had the first chance to open the scoring and while he missed this he was on target after 6 minutes.
Jed hooker Michael Weeklie was then sent to the sin-bin after an altercation, and then Biggar stretched their lead courtesy of Notman who kicked another penalty for 6-0.
This 6-point cushion was short-lived however as Jed gave note of their potential with a great sweeping three-quarters move which saw ball moved from the left hand side of the pitch via some excellent hands and which ended with fullback Lewis Young just evading the despairing tackle of Kelly to cross in the corner. The long kick was missed by stand off Ewan Scott.
Biggar still maintained a territorial advantage but their cause was not helped with the sin-binning of Warnock who was the unlucky 'next man' following the referee's warning.
Scott missed the resultant penalty and then Notman missed from a similar award, the kicking duties passing immediately to Chris McKeand who took Biggar ahead at 9-5 and then 12-5 as Jed picked up another yellow, this virtually as Biggar were restored to 15 with the return of Warnock.
This score was the last kick of the half and a timely one at that, there being precious little between the sides at this stage but with Biggar taking an exceptional counter ruck after Scott had sought to go by himself.
Playing towards the clubhouse Jed took early charge of the second half and were unlucky not to get points on the board as Scott missed with a couple of drop goal attempts. They were rewarded however as centre Gregor Young took full advantage of a partially charged-down kick from Davy Reive. The ball broke to Jed and with two well-timed passes Young was given sufficient space to run in from 30 metres. Scott's conversion tied the scores at 12-12.
Biggar made several changes at this juncture with Kevin Anderson, Conor Lavery and Stuart Coubrough replacing Colin Arthur, Notman and Warnock respectively.
McKeand then kicked another penalty as a surge from the Biggar pack had the Jed eight in trouble. This score heralded a purple patch for Biggar, a 10 minute period which effectively won the match for them, and which saw three quick fire scores. Indeed with the game lost, it is much to Jeds credit that they didn't capitulate but instead came back for another try.
The first Biggar score came as the locals exerted further pressure on the Jed eight at the set piece, ball initially fed left before being swept back right where, after two probing runs by Coubrough and Mikey Rutherford, Simeon James made a deft and ultimately scoring transfer to Chris McKeand. The fullback ignored his brother on the wing and instead side-stepped his way to the line for the try.
Just seconds after the restart which was well-taken by prop Kevin Anderson who is again this year punching miles above his weight, Biggar launched another attack with C. McKeand once more in the van. It was he who finished from some 40 metres leaving the Jed defence in his wake with a great turn of pace. His conversion and a third to a try from prop Scott Cameron put Biggar 34-12 up. This effort was another with Anderson to the fore, his initial burst taking him past the Jed defence. His off-load was plucked out of the air by a charging Rutherford but at the ensuing ruck it was Anderson who cleared out to allow Cameron the opportunity for the try.
Several at this point felt that this would herald a Jed melt down but they replied with another try of their own, their cause aided in no small part after James was sent to the bin following a high tackle. This final score was credited to Scott who managed to evade the Biggar defence with a dive to the line.
All-in-all a well-deserved yet flattering win. There is still much to work on, not least the need to concentrate for the full 80 and not in so many fits and starts.
Biggar now prepare for a trip to local rivals Peebles. At the best of times this is always a close fought encounter and there is everything to suggest that this is likely to be the case again, Peebles in 3rd equal with Aberdeen Grammar and Hawick.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Michael McKeand, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Sam Muir (captain), David Reive; Kevin Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Scott Cameron, Andrew Cairns, Grant Owens, Hugh Green, Alan Warnock, Jason Kelly. Replacements - Colin Arthur, Conor Lavery, Stuart Coubrough and Bob Aitken.
12/9/09 - Kelso 9 Biggar 31
Biggar earned their third straight win with another very impressive performance, and one which secured another away bonus point to maintain a healthy second place in the SHE Premier 2 table.
Fielding a largely unchanged side save for the unavailable Alan Warnock who was combining, Biggar opened up well and were rewarded with an early score, this credited to No 8 Jason Kelly. An early yellow card to Kelso centre Tony Wichary did little for Kelso's defence in the run up to the score.
Regular kicker Kevin Utterson reduced the deficit after a quarter of an hour while Biggar were forced into an early change as Fraley Hopa gave way to Stuart Coubrough on account of a shoulder injury.
Just prior to the half hour mark Biggar notched a second score, this a fine individual effort from winger Scott Watson. A well-timed off-load from Simeon James gave Watson possession but with little room and some 30 yards to the line. A burst of pace, an exceedingly neat chip over the cover defence followed by a sprint to the ball, tidy pick-up and dive to the line seems all so simple to record but this was an excellent effort and with Chris McKeand kicking the conversion Biggar took a 12-3 lead.
A well-worked line out ploy followed a confident restart and this saw Andrew Cairns make a break for the line. While held up, his off-load went straight to Kelly who uncharacteristically dropped what was surely a scoring pass. Just minutes later however Grant Owens rounded off a sustained passage of play which saw Biggar work the ball right then left to create space which the flanker was able to exploit for another well-deserved try. McKeand added the conversion for a commanding 19-3 lead.
Utterson clawed back a second three points from a second penalty to ensure Kelso remained in contact at the break.
The restart saw a determined thrust from Kelso in what was to be their best passage of the game. A burst in midfield from Utterson took the fullback clear and a latish tackle from Cairns was penalised this allowing Utterson to further reduce Biggar's lead to 19-9.
While Kelso came right back into the game this was also Biggar's weakest part of the contest, many promising moves being brought swiftly to a halt due to several errors and some tenacious play from the Border side.
With the sinking sun making things difficult for catching, the Biggar back three were constantly turned by stand-off Keiran Wilkinson and centre Ewan Ford although there is little doubt that when kicking, it is important to ensure that the kicks taken are accurately placed and that the boot is not over-used - this not always being the case on Saturday.
Biggar made other changes, with Kevin Anderson giving way for Colin Arthur and then Conor Lavery on for Davy Reive, Sam Muir moving into scrum half . A wee stramash after a collapsed scrum saw prop Scott Cameron retaliate leaving referee Andrew Jackson with little option other than to give him a yellow.
In addition to a concentration of fitness levels Biggar have been working really hard at training on their off-loads and quick passes to the free runners and this really seemed to pay off in this half, many of the phases of play featuring some excellent yardage as Kelso struggled to cut their opponents down.
Some of the overall support play was first rate, this adventure paying off at last as ball was moved after a Lavery break to the backs and thence through several pairs of hands before making it's way to winger Bob Aitken. The big man made a breenge for the line and although stopped his tacklers momentum dragged him over the line for the try. The conversion unfortunately proved too difficult for kicker McKeand, though he was more successful with the last attempt, this to a peach of a try from James. With all of the Kelso defence and most of the crowd sucked into thinking the ball was being shipped left to the blind-side, Muir quickly switched play right to Lavery. He in turn made some ground before popping the ball back into the advancing James on a great angle. Such was the pace of the move that Kelso failed to get even as much as a hand on the flying centre. An important factor in the score was Muir's request to the referee to be aware of his positioning, a previous attempt at the move in pre-season seeing the referee on the day blocking the run to the line. Mr Jackson did as he was bade and the try was on!
All-in-all then a cracking win and a magical bonus win to boot - a real boost. The story of the game cannot omit the confidence with which the side is playing. Runners have the confidence given by enhanced fitness and practice to look and find support runners who in turn off-load quickly out of the tackle to progress downfield and to leave opponents trailing in their wake.
There was no disguising coach Ants Posa's happiness - this borne from a sound win but also with the knowledge that the bonus point four tries were scored despite a slow passage of play midway through the game. In short the side has much more to offer yet! A timely improvement given the visit of (another) Border side Jedforest this weekend.
Biggar - Chris McKeand; Bob Aitken, Simeon James, Douglas Notman, Scott Watson; Sam Muir (captain), David Reive; Kevin Anderson, Mike Rutherford, Scott Cameron, Fraley Hopa, Andrew Cairns, Grant Owens, Hugh Green, Jason Kelly. Substitutes - Colin Arthur, Conor Lavery, Stuart Coubrough and Colin Yuille.
5/9/09 - GHA 16 Biggar 35
A second win for Biggar plus a well-deserved bonus point gave Biggar another sizeable boost for the season. The win featured 6 tries and had goal kicker Douglas Notman had a more favourable day with the boot the score would have been much greater. Only one penalty and one conversion were successfully converted on Saturday.
GHA lost out to Kelso last week and so this was their chance to get points on the board. A typically stuffy side, they never gave up, although Biggar were never in any real danger of losing the game after they scored their second score within the opening quarter of the game.
GHA stand-off James Noonan, so often in the past a player who has wrought havoc with his boot, managed to reduce the Biggar lead with two kicks at goal and the Glasgow side got within 4 points following a try by Andrew Gillman to take the score to 14-11.
Biggar stretched away again shortly afterwards however and they never looked back, GHA's second try the last of the game.
For the record, the Biggar points came from birthday boy Grant Owens (2), Scott Cameron, Simeon James, Bob Aitken (who had a very effective game throughout) and Chris McKeand.
As a past player at GHA, Biggar coach Ants Posa was very pleased with this result which again confirms the difference in the sides preparedness from the position they held last season at this time.
On a hard but tricky surface there were the usual number of errors expected at this stage of the season but the ball won by the Biggar pack gave their three-quarters the chance to show their pace and skills.
29/8/09 - Biggar 28 Dunfermline 15
Biggar opened their Premier 2 account with a deserved win over newcomers and first time visitors to Hartreemill, Dunfermline. Those regular supporters would note that one of the Fife squad was none other than Warren Daley who played at centre for Biggar when Gary Parker was coach and which culminated on promotion to Premier 1 back in season 2003/4. Fortunately the big man did not return home on the winning side this time round.
Fielding a massive pack, the Fife side worked hard but were unable to cope with the enhanced fitness of their hosts, while the broken play running of the Biggar threequarters meant that they were also forced into some strong defensive roles.
If there is a disappointment it is that Biggar should probably have earned a bonus point but despite lots of pressure and a couple of very near misses they were unable to gain that all-important 4th score. It is hard to be too harsh however as this performance was streets head of their first game last season and there were plenty signs to suggest that things could be very much better as players gain in confidence having played together.
Biggar opened with the slope and breeze in their favour and are to be congratulated for harnessing the conditions to their advantage, something that they often failed to do last season. The game is a simple one however and with Douglas Notman kicking well from hand Biggar made sure that the Fife side were kept deep in their own 22.
The breeze made place kicking tricky and Notman was off-target with his first two kicks at goal, his third earning his side the first points of the game as Dunfermline gifted several needless penalties as they took exception to the refs interpretation of the laws.
Barely two further minutes elapsed before the same player made it 6-0 following another penalty. Things were soon better again as Scott Watson who had a good game overall made great use of a neat off-load by centre Simeon James to score great try. Notman added the conversion and Biggar were 13-0 up.
Biggar via Andrew Cairns and Alan Warnock made excellent takes at the re-starts to put Dunfermline immediately on the back foot this another very pleasing feature of the performance.
A series of probing runs featuring among others Chris McKeand, Scott Cameron and Sam Muir kept Dunfermline deep in defence until Kiwi Cameron found himself free with just 30 metres to go to the Dunfermline line. Showing a great turn of pace the prop stormed home for an excellent score which Notman converted for 20-0 .
A better passage of play for the hosts put Biggar under real pressure and while they had seemingly managed to stem this and earn a valuable turnover penalty deep in their 22, the intervention of touch-judge Gaffney led to a penalty reversal. Dunfermline took full advantage of this, ball tapped and run via their pack eventually paying off and giving sufficient space for scrum half John Brunton to squeeze over for an important score. He added the conversion for 20-7 and with it a foothold on the game.
Coming as this score did on the stroke of half time there was no underestimating the lift this must have given the visiting XV, their cause aided immediately after the break as No 8 McColl added another 3 points from a penalty award - this penalty ending up as a drop goal as the ball tipped off the kicking tee as the big man made his approach. Coolness under pressure indeed! 20-10
Biggar via the boot of Notman made it 23-10, this penalty made all the easier as Dunfermline sought to remonstrate with the referee.
A further and sustained passage of play saw Biggar confined to the 'clubhouse' corner and once again while it appeared that Biggar had earned some respite this time from a crucial lineout touch from lock Farely Hopa, the referee was having none of this and brought Biggar pack to defend a penalty. An equally crucial error as their line creaked a little was enough to give Muir a chance to breakout and this he took, play advanced up to the Biggar 22 and then again as Watson made good ground on the left wing.
This was the first of those opportunities alluded to earlier, when another try was seemingly their for the taking, but on all these occasions a handling error was enough to slow the attack down. With almost a half hour in the second half gone, some very good ball retention meant that Biggar almost set up camp on their visitors line before ball moved right/left and the right again was eventually taken by Notman at pace, the big centre crossing for a fine try. 28-10.
McKeand was the next to show, the fullback running kicks back at will and making some excellent yards on the left to boot. A loose pass brought this play to an end however, Dunf. taking full advantage of this situation for Johnny Smart to outstrip a stranded defence for another very important try, the conversion just sliding by for a 28-15 and ultimately final score.
There were many positives, not least being Biggars' fitness which once again was significant in the latter stages of the game. The pace of Biggar's pick and drive made those of Dunfermline almost pedestrian but this is something that the Fife side will surely get better at as they gain in fitness. This of course points to a side which will be a very different prospect come the meeting at McKane park Dunfermline in December. The broken play running of McKeand was another encouraging feature while the yards gained by every pack member was a massive factor.
It is far too early to make any predictions as to how the side will fare this season but suffice to say that things are definitely brighter than at the same time last season.
Biggar
C. McKeand, R. Aitken, S. James, D. Notman, S Watson, S. Muir, D. Reive, K. Anderson, M. Rutherford, S. Cameron, F. Hopa, A. Cairns, G. Owens, A. Warnock, J. Kelly Reps C. Arthur, S. Coubrough, H. Green, C. Lavery