Oct
05
Match Report and Photos by Lee McDonald
After the torrential rain of the Friday night the sun was out in Biggar for clash with the Bears.
With a mix of old faces and new bears elected to kick off into the sun and wind in the first half.
The Bears lost EJ to a blood injury early on and Biggar capitalised after some soft missed tackles with a try out wide which they converted.
Bears got back into the game spreading the ball well. Biggar lost a man to a yellow card on 15 minutes to a dangerous tackle on fullback Chris Pacey. Beats capitalised shortly after good driving work by Paul ‘Bus’ Richards and Ross Young to give space out wide for the rapidly recovered Pacey to go over. Pacey also converted his try.
The Bears nearly scored again through a kick and chase put through by Pacey again with Whitelock and Rawcliff on the chase.
With pressure on the bears conceded a penalty at the breakdown on the 22, which Biggar converted.
After the restart Biggar after a few breakdowns and some quick hands broke down the touch line and managed to offload in the covering tackle to a support runner and score under the posts. Try converted.
Bears worked to get back into the game before half time but a turn-over on the wing lead to another try down the touch line for Biggar.
Another try was quickly scored after the restart by Biggar after a break down the middle. Pacey made the covering tackle but the support runner was again there to go under the posts. Converted.
After strong words from coach the Bears enjoyed a period of pressure on the Biggar try line but weren't able to capitalise but their clearing kick was return with menace. Biggar couldn't withstand the pressure and gave away a penalty. The kick was put into the corner for the line out. Rod caught the line out and a driving maul was set up and it turned out to be unstoppable. Bus claiming a try.
Sadly shortly after the restart Muir couldn't secure the ball and yet again leaked another try through some clever offloading by Biggar.
Strong words were had at half time and changes were made in the back row with Justin Tito and Chris ‘TBBCON’ O'Neill coming on.
Bears started strongly in the second half and after soaking up Biggar pressure. Strong work by the pack and better tackles a quick interchange between Jamie and Malcolm ‘Malky’ Jack and back to Jamie to score under the posts. Pacey converted.
After another battle in the midfield Biggar have away a penalty on halfway. Jamie sent the ball into the corner and the Bears set up another drive maul from the line out for Tito to go over in the corner. Pacey again gets a mention for landing the kick from wide out on the touch line.
Bears were pressuring a tired Biggar team and Whitelock broke the line on halfway to only get stopped 5m from the posts. Biggar sacrificed a penalty and from the scrum Derrick Murray slipped Rawcliff through for a try. Pacey missed.
Comeback was on at 34-31.
Has to be mentioned, Chris ‘TBBCON’ O'Neill CAUGHT A LINE OUT.
An edgy end to the game ensued as Biggar got frustrated with the mistake and throwing away such a lead.
Whitelock was the recipient of a yellow card after many team infringements at the breakdown.
Biggar got an additional 3 points from a penalty.
Sadly after prolonged pressure the Bears couldn't gain the required try and conversion to gain the win.
In the huddle post game the realisation that they nearly won a game that they only played the second half was recognised.
Roy Stewart summed it up as it was the first loss as a Bear in nearly a year.
MotD
Chris pacey
Dotd
Chris Whitelock
Next week’s game: Edinburgh Accies (h)
