Cpl Lewis Bean (Rifles) got his first try of the season on Saturday afternoon, and in doing so helped Glasgow Warriors extend their recent United Rugby Championship winning run to three matches.
Glasgow headed to bottom club Zebre on Saturday as favourites, and Cpl Bean got the team to the perfect start with a try with just six minutes on the clock after the Warriors worked a move from a lineout. He could have had a second later in the half in a similar fashion, only to lose control of the ball close to the line.
The visitors did get a second try on the half-hour, and should have had another after that which would have put them out of sight at half-time. The second half lost its quality as the game wore on, with Glasgow getting the only points with a penalty, in doing so confirming the four league points with a 17-9 final scoreline.
“We’ve had a lot of disruption this week,” commented Glasgow Head Coach, Danny Wilson. “People who were picked couldn’t play for various reasons. We were travelling away to Zebre, a number of players were playing their first game for the club this season, and we’ve come away with four points. So we’ve got to take the positive of that first of all.
“Our second-half performance was poor — that’s understating it. We definitely got on the wrong side of the referee and struggled to get any momentum in the second half.
“But we’ve come out of here with a win. That’s three wins on the bounce, we’re still fourth – we’ll take that.”
There was no such luck for LCpl Lloyd Wheeldon (3 Para), who was named on the bench for Heriot’s 5th/6th place play-off against Boroughmuir at Goldenacre.
LCpl Wheeldon was a second half replacement as Heriot’s failed to follow up on last weekend’s victory against the same opposition, despite taking a 5-0 lead with 11 minutes played.
However Boroughmuir used this to inspire them to take control, and after missing a couple of decent chances the visitors went in front thanks to a converted try on the half-hour. The visitors double their points tally before half-time, and while Heriot’s replied in the second half with an unconverted try Boroughmuir sealed the contest with 14 minutes to go with a third seven-pointer.
Heriot’s did get a late try but it was just consolation, Boroughmuir heading home with a 21-15 victory.
Words © New Dogs, Old Tricks, Header and Featured Image © Craig Watson
