Glasgow Academicals 18, Musselburgh 35.
THERE was a quiet satisfaction among the Musselburgh travellers as
they headed back east having comprehensively turned over Glasgow
Academicals, among their closest league rivals until teatime on
Saturday.
While no one making the journey from New Anniesland was in any doubt
that the show ain't over 'til the fat lady sings, they were at least
following a team comfortably on top of Division Two of the McEwan's
National League and tantalisingly close to a return to the top flight
after an absence of five seasons.
There can be little doubt on perusing their results and viewing this
performance, that the Stoneyhill outfit thoroughly deserve their
position atop one of the toughest league divisions of them all.
They boast a fiery pack, swift half backs in Fraser MacMillan and
Cliff Livingstone, and both midfield and wing three quarters are quick
and strong enough to make dents while attacking and hold firm in
defence.
Most good things revolve around the unlikely looking Livingstone, with
his socks at his ankles and a deceptive gait which belies his speed of
thought and deed.
Not only did he contribute 15 points with his boot and the occasional
help of the woodwork, but he also took a hand in making the tries for
colleagues.
Glasgow Academicals have talent in abundance, not least the Macgregor
brothers, ever present No.8 Gordon Mackay and hard working Chas
Afuakwah, but they failed on this occasion to knit as a team and showed
a disturbing propensity to shoot themselves in the foot.
Accies took a slender 6-3 advantage into the interval, through a brace
of Calum Macgregor penalty goals answered in the singular by
Livingstone. It never looked likely to be enough as they turned into the
icy, swirling wind.
Musselburgh took control and a Livingstone penalty goal and his
conversion of Craig Ramsay's try from efficient handling were quickly
followed by a McMillan try from Andy Mcleod's thrust.
Alan Ker's try from a garryowen, converted by Calum Macgregor,
narrowed the gap but the visitors, taking scrummage and loose ball
almost at will, stretched out of sight through tries from Mike Horsburgh
and Stuart Campbell, both goaled by Livingstone, to which the stand off
added his third penalty goal.
The never-say-die Graeme Macgregor powered over for a try from a short
penalty and brother Calum added goal points, but already the cause was
lost. Perhaps next time, Accies.
Glasgow Academicals -- D Ogle; G A Peoples, S M Simmers, A G Ker, J L
Pawson; C G Macgregor, G T Macgregor; A C Sturgess, W Sinclair, A J M
Perry, C Afuakwah, G W McLean, S P Thomson, G T Mackay, J Richmond.
Replacement -- A Mason for Sinclair (60 minutes).
Musselburgh -- B Stewart; S Campbell, W Weatherhead, D Laird, C
Ramsay; C Livingstone, F MacMillan; I Ross, A Robertson, A Pringle, A
MacColl, J Muir, M Horsburgh, A McLeod, C J Pow.
Referee -- J M Fleming (Boroughmuir).
