Hamilton Bulls 54 – Peebles 20
Bulls moved up to 5th place in National League with a scintillating victory over Peebles. After a week of deluge proportions rain, great credit goes to Hamilton ground staff, Jim Ritchie and Willie Bell, for turning out a pitch which was perfect for flowing rugby. They even managed to turn on the sun!
Bulls opened brightly driving the game deep into Peebles territory, and on 4 minutes they got the scoreboard ticking when Owen McLeish launched a perfectly weighted kick pass into the path of winger Ryan Burrell who scored the first of a hat-trick having shrugged aside the Peebles defence to dot sown under the posts. Mcleish added the first of 7 conversions for an early 7 – 0 lead. Peebles launched their own attack and after several soft penalties conceded by Hamilton Josh White was sent to the bin, much to the bemusement of a baffled home support. Peebles capitalised and scored through their number 8, Jackson, direct from the lineout for 7 – 5. Bulls’ response as immediate. Ryan made a smart interception and the forwards recycled quick ball which was fed to the short side. Andy Wilson and Burrell showed great handling and Wilson himself scampered in for Bulls’ second. 14 – 5. Peebles again used the power of their forwards push Hamilton back but good defence and the unerring boot of McLeish ensured a good exit. Peebles lost their no7 to injury after a try saving tackle on Ben Plant. Hamilton again went on the attack and from good scrum ball, Burrell popped up in mid field to burst through the first up tackle and there was no stopping the hard running winger who scored under the posts in 27 minutes. Only 3 minutes later the forwards got in on the try scoring when after good recycling rucks, Grant McCowan forced his way over in the corner for the Bonus point. McLeish was again successful from the touchline for 28 – 5.
With the half winding down, Hamilton made another successful exit from their 22, stole the ball at the lineout and fed the ball wide to the left. Wilson drew the defence to leave Burrell with a clear run to the corner for his hat-trick. Again McLeish’s unerring boot was successful. Bulls were not done yet, for they finished the half with another smart try. From a driving scrum, Josh White picked up at the base and fed Wilson running an unstoppable line for Hamilton’s 6th try and a half time lead of 42 – 5. Bulls sensed the approach of half time and switched off to allow a smart try on the wing by No 8 Jackson. Half time 42 – 10.
Peebles had the best of the third quarter showing the form of the early part of the season. A series of quick rucks and smart recycling left space for Scrum half Collins to score near the posts but the conversion was unsuccessful. Bulls struck back immediately after capturing the ball from the kick off. From a scrum deep in the Peebles 22, Josh White again picked up, made good ground and offloaded to scrum half Euan Whelan who got in under the posts.
Peebles full back Donald Anderson began to have a big influence on the Peebles attack breeching the Bulls line on several occasions leaving Wilson and his w1ngers to make several last ditch tackles. On 50 minutes however Hamilton ran out of defenders on the left leaving space for hooker McConnell to run in unopposed. For the next 15 minutes both teams huffed and puffed but defences held. Tempers began to fray and the referee and to warn both sides to improve their discipline. Fortunately no hand bags were damaged.
Bulls finished on the front foot when Burrell forced his way close to the corner and offloaded to Ryan who forced his way in at the corner. McLeish had his first miss from wide out and facing the strong wind. Despite the low scoring second half, when Hamilton were facing a strengthening wind, Bulls’ fans left satisfied by a good showing by their young side.