Third straight defeat for Kirkcaldy as they lose to Glasgow Accies

At no time in this wind buffeted encounter did the Blues manage to challenge the Glasgow side who had gone down by a 45-23 margin when the sides met on a sunny October day at Beveridge Park last year.

The strength of various Kirkcaldy teams in recent seasons has been in the power of the pack but this was again sorely absent.

Three times in the first half Kirkcaldy had attacking five metre scrummages which in other times might have produced scores, or a least a penalty ended with Accies successfully holding up the resulting maul and being able to clear their line.

The line-out too resulted yielded few positive results with long throws being especially blown off course.

Accies back play while being nothing out of the ordinary had some thing which Kirkcaldy lacked in the main – accuracy.

Even in the hostile weather the home team usually managed to find their targets while Kirkcaldy struggled with theirs.

With all the heavy rain during the week in the Glasgow area the Blues were surprised to find the New Anniesland pitch in excellent condition almost as if the rain had fallen elsewhere.

There was another surprise in store for them in the seventh minute when Accies won a penalty near half way and put it into touch about 10 metres out.

A successful line-out take saw the ball released from the maul for full back John Strachan to race in for a try well converted by Gregor Macewan.

There was no suggestion in the opening stages that the Blues would end a poor second best.

They had their chances, turning down at least three kicks at goal for kicks to touch as they sought an equalising try.

Their efforts were well contained by the Anniesland side whose confidence appeared to grow as the game progressed.

When a scoring chance came their way with half an hour gone they snapped it up through winger Campbell McCready whose unconverted try made it 12-0 which remained the score at half time.

If any thing the wind became more unpredictable after half time.

One intended attacking kick from Accies’ stand off Ross Cowan from inside the Kirkcaldy 10 metre line ended inside his own 10 metre line, a distance for about 25 metres lost.

At no time in the second half did the Blues look as if they could overhaul this modest twelve point deficit.

The error count continued to mount and scoring chances were few and far between.

Now and again they would mount a midfield challenge, especially with some bruising carries from prop Marcus Salt but too often they petered out.

Accies themselves hardly managed to impose themselves on the game and proceedings went into the final quarter before the scoreboard moved again.

Lock Chris Johnston collected a loose ball 20 metres out and scampered in for a try converted by Cowan which put the issue well beyond doubt. Minutes later a final nail was driven into the Kirkcaldy coffin with Accies bonus point winning try scored by Colin Taylor.

The game was well into added time and Accies just about ready to celebrate a substantial win when Kirkcaldy efforts were rewarded with a try in the corner from captain Josh Laird which hardly enhanced a thoroughly miserable day for the Beveridge Park side.

On this month’s form it is difficult to see where another Kirkcaldy win will come from in the remaining five games.

While there have been some changes in the team which had nine consecutive wins in the autumn there haven’t been too many since and maybe better application will see an upturn in results.

Glasgow Accies: J Strachan, C Taylor, G Macewan, R Joy, C McCready, R Cowan, R McNaught, C Goodfellow, T Power, J Currie C Johnston, C Duke, K Greggan, C Elliott, T Spinks.

Replacements:- C Scott, G Valentine, S Alton, M McCaw.

Kirkcaldy: F Smith, A Brooks, O Bonner, J Laird, J Devine, C Letham, G McKenzie, G Queen, C Hamilton, M Salt, G Shields, S Evans, S Barclay, S Milne, C Mann.

Replacements D Jennings, D Turner, M Collins.