Burgh beaten by the Buddies

Topsy-turvy doesn’t even come close to describing this one... in a match where the lead changed hands SIX times, Burgh will be kicking themselves for not closing out a match they definitely should have won.
Without skipper Cammy Kerr, David Calderwood and Dan Bowles, things got worse for the Grizzlies when they lost Ben Wain to a ruptured Achilles heel in the warm up.
It was pretty Even-Stevens in the opening exchanges, the blond whirlwind Sam King making one eye-catching break but failing to spot his support before being wrapped up in the tackle.
Paisley took the lead after eight minutes when Burgh were penalised for side entry – something the referee seemed keen to ping only the Grizzlies on all day – and the successful kick saw the visitors ahead. This lead lengthened after 20 minutes when, from a series of breenges by the Paisley pack inside the home 22, their scrum-half took advantage of a horrendous hole in Burgh’s ruck defence, and scampered over for an unconverted try, 8-0.
Burgh responded well, a searing break from stand-off by Craig Bowman taken on by his centres, Calum O’Brien and Mark Robertson, with excellent support by the outstanding Phil Ard. Burgh won a penalty inside the Paisley 22, which they kicked to touch. Though untidy from lineout possession, it took a lovely basketball-style pass from big prop Reece Girvan to put lock Craig Calderwood away for a fine try. Unfortunately, Reece Court missed the conversion.
Just into the second quarter, Burgh stole ahead. O’Brien found a lovely penalty touch, Sean Alton’s deft flick off the top of the lineout went straight to flanker King and he ram-rodded over the line for a try, converted by Court for 12-8.
The visitors came storming back, and forced another penalty inside the Burgh 22 following initial excellent defence by Cammy King and Ard, the successful kick making it 12-11 after 33 minutes.
Burgh missed a final opportunity to stretch their lead in the first half, when O’Brien burst through in midfield, found Alton who in turn fed Court but his pass back inside was snaffled by a Paisley player and the chance was gone. Half-time Burgh 12 Paisley 11.
The first five minutes of the second period were frantic: a promising move by Burgh saw winger Mark Kinsman bullet up the touchline only to be tackled just short of the line, then Paisley earned themselves another shot at goal, but the chance to regain the lead was missed. A high tackle by Craig Wight, however, offered an easier kick which was duly slotted to give Paisley at two-point lead after 55 minutes.
Back bounced Burgh and a number of forays into Paisley’s 22 finished with a short-penalty move being taken up by Alton, who’s sheer strength saw him plunge over the line for 17-14. Paisley then missed another penalty attempt but the visitors – in particular their playmaker, a burly centre – were starting to dominate the game, and only a superb covering tackle by Kinsman prevented a try.
Into the final 15 minutes the pressure told… a series of tight pick-and-go’s from the Paisley pack saw their hooker burrow under the posts for a converted try and Burgh trailed 21-17. To make matters worse, Calderwood was harshly sin-binned for an infringement leading up to the score.
But the Grizzlies never-say-die attitude shone through again, and Kinsman, Bowman and Josh Green made inroads, only for Burgh to be turned over at the next breakdown. But they pinned Paisley inside their own 22 before a stonking double-hit from Sam King and Arras Mathieson forced an error.
Burgh took play right then left, with Robertson threatening on a strong run before Bowman and O’Brien combined to put Kinsman over to raucous jubilation from the crowd. Though O’Brien’s conversion sailed wide, the Grizzlies led 22-21 with three minutes left.
Yup! You’ve guessed it… despite having little to do but maintain possession to see the game out, Burgh were turned over and Paisley worked their way up the field, that centre’s determined run setting up a score in the left corner at the death.
A harsh lesson for the young Greens and a heavy price to pay for letting in an easily preventable try… but the Grizzlies will have to take their medicine and hopefully bounce back stronger for it.
Burgh: Mathieson, Kinsman, Robertson, O’Brien, Court, Bowman, Stevenson, Ard, C.King, Jamieson, Calderwood, Rettie, Alton, Green, Sam King. Subs: Stuart King, Reece Girvan, Craig Wight.