Rugby: Buddies keep up winning ways

Sep 25 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

PAISLEY made it two wins out of two in the West League Division Two with this victory over Strathaven.

The conditions were not conducive for free-flowing rugby, with the pitch heavy underfoot and a persistent fine rain soaking the players through.

It was Paisley who started the strongest with the first 20 minutes spent almost entirely in the Strathaven half.

But it looked as if Paisley might not take any advantage of the territory and possession, after two missed penalties and several handling errors in close proximity to the Strathaven line left both the players and coach frustrated.

Paisley did, however, take the lead after 22 minutes when fly half Steve Jermy made it third time lucky when he slotted a penalty home from just outside the 22.

Good defence and the conditions conspired to make the rest of the first half scoreless.

Paisley started the likeliest in the second half, forcing Strathaven back into their own 22 for lengthy spells.

Consistent pressure told when number eight David Dodd broke the line and evaded the fullback to score under the posts for the first try of the game.

With the conversion added, Paisley now had a little breathing room, which they would need five minutes later when Strathaven managed to pull three points back after Paisley gave away a penalty after some Strathaven pressure during one of their rare forays into the 22.

Jermy quickly cancelled this out by adding another penalty a few minutes later and this seemed to deflate the visitors, who had expected to work their way back into the game.

Paisley should have added to their score several times but some over-ambitious off-loading – and David Dodd deciding to run straight at the opposing fullback with the corner beckoning – meant that it was nearly 20 minutes before Ryan McCreadie added the second.

The winger managed to score in the corner after some excellent work by both the forwards and the backs.

Fifteen points behind with less than 10 minutes to go, the league leaders were desperate to salvage something from the game and they were helped when Paisley lost concentration and allowed Strathaven to turn a quick tap penalty on the halfway line into a try after a slip by First XV captain Michael Somerville.

The conversion was missed and Paisley saw the game out to record an 18-8 win.