No giants killed here

IT was clear from fairly early on in this cup-tie that we were not about to witness any giant-killing act at New Anniesland.

Yet what is good about the SRU Tennents 1556 Cup is that the players and fans from a bit further down the leagues can have their dreams.

A rugby sage in the bar afterwards offered the opinion that cup upsets are far less likely in rugby as there is not such a capacity for a breakaway score unless good possession can be secured.

In addition, the more celebrated outfit is more likely to boast bigger, fitter and more skilful players well able to rise to the challenge.

And so it turned out as Glasgow Academicals wore down the spirited challenge of Cartha Queen's Park and ran in seven tries to emphasise their superiority.

It is not intended for a second to take away from a fine display by the visitors from across the river, who are now under the guidance of that irrepressible man of many clubs, Dougie Smith.

They chopped and harried but were always that split second behind Accies forwards in getting to the ball and latterly began to look wearied by their task.

Cartha play a no-nonsense style of rugby and have real punch on the wings but were never really given the chance to cut loose against a strong home defence.

Accies have found a promising youngster in Steven Cassidy, who came on as a replacement early on, showed pace and enthusiasm and surely would have been rewarded by more than one try but for some woeful last minute service from those inside him.

Stuart Simmers opened the scoring with a penalty goal then the tries came in quick succession from Peter Sandford, Steve Begley - both converted by Simmers - and Brian Boundy to give Accies a 22-0 half-time advantage.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with tries from John Mason, Cassidy, and Boundy, the last goaled by Simmers, before Cartha hit back through a Ricky Fildes drop goal and a try for big Martin Cairney as the forwards pressed to the line. Milne converted.

Sandford completed the scoring as the rain battered down and seconds later referee Logan, resplendent in the sponsor's new jersey, brought things to a close.

Glasgow Academicals - J F Mason; T Mathewson, M Hadden, D Ablett, B Boundy; R Munday, S M Simmers; A Perrie, A S Mason, G Doran, C Afuakwah, S Begley, A Humphries, S Winter, P Sandford. Replacement - S Cassidy for Munday (11min).

Cartha Queen's Park - D Neill; J Milne, S Docherty, D McLaren, G Grant; R Fildes, K Black; R Murphy, D McCallum, R Harvey, E Cumming, M Cairney, I Caskie, R Urquhart, G McLean. Replacement - G Glennan for Grant (42).

SCORERS: Glasgow Academicals - Simmers, 1p, 3c; Sandford, 2t; Begley, 1t; Boundy, 2t; Mason, 1t; Cassidy, 1t. Cartha Queen's Park - Fildes, 1dg; Cairney, 1t; Milne, 1c.

Referee - J Logan (Marr).