GLASGOW Academicals seemed to take the words of their supporters, who accused them of dozing during games, to heart. They remained wide awake and saw off a weak Biggar challenge with ultimate ease (writes David Steele).
They were quicker to the ball and better able to make effective use of posession and produced some good entertainment at a sun-dappled New Anniesland.
Your correspondent has never been convinced by the benefits to the domestic game of a trickle of overseas players to Scotland becoming a flood.
Yet there can be little argument that the arrival of Andrew Strawbridge from New Zealand has boosted this Academicals side immensely. He adds pace and vision to an already useful back division and his positioning around the field and general handling sh ould be an example to all.
The centre played a part in all the best of Accies' play and always used the ammunition provided by the industrious forwards and slick half backs wisely.
Biggar, on the other hand, have work to do before they can be considered suitable material for this level.
The pack did some good driving and work on the ground, notably through Andrew Cairns and second row stalwarts Ollerenshaw and McAlpine. Yet the backs seemed to lack cohesion and too often were strung out across the park.
Calum MacGregor opened the scoring with two penalty goals before Gordon Doran and Steve Begley nabbed good follow-up tries.
Biggar tried to fight back and a try for Cairns followed Ollerenshaw's rogue rhino impression to the line. Hurring failed to convert but made amends with a brace of penalty goals.
Accies dominated the second half and tries followed for John Mason, Stuart Simmers, Strawbridge, Glenn Metcalfe (2) and Begley. MacGregor goaled all but one.
SCORERS: Glasgow Academicals - Macgregor 2p, 5c; Doran 1t; Begley 2t; Mason 1t; Simmers 1t; Strawbridge 1t; Metcalfe 2t. Biggar - Hurring 2p; A Cairns 1t.
Glasgow Academicals - Mason; Metcalfe, Strawbridge, Hablett, Boundy; MacGregor, Simmers; Perrie, Mason, Doran, Afuakwah, Begley, Winter, McKay, Brown. Replacement - McKnight for Simmers (75min).
Biggar - Harrison; Watson, Graham, Hunter, Steel; Hurring, Abernethy; Smith, Fleming, Campbell, Ollerenshaw, R McAlpine, E McAlpine, A Cairns, D Murray. Replacements - W Cairns for Ollerenshaw (49min), Armstrong for Abernethy (70).
Referee - R Dickson (Madras College FP).
Glasgow Acad 56
Biggar 11
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