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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 26 January 2019 |
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KIRKCALDY 27 HAMILTON 24 An 84th minute Craig Letham penalty confidently stroked over in front of the posts at the Balwearie Road end kept alive Kirkcaldy's chances of National 1 security and lifted them off bottom place in the table. Initiative had gone back and forth during this engrossing game with the Blues having surrendered an earlier 24-10 lead. When the sides met three weeks earlier at Laigh Bent in a rearranged game there was little doubt as to which side was the better, with a tired looking Kirkcaldy team a clear second best. Since then there has been a change in the Blues training regime and this seems to have produced a more combative outfit, capable of rising up the table. Minutes after the final whistle news arrived from Musselburgh that the strong going East Lothian side had conceded a five point loss to Kirkcaldy's fellow relegation contenders Cartha QP, which had the effect of consigning Dundee High to the foot of the table. Director of Rugby Mark Henderson post match smile could not conceal his delight at the outcome. “Obviously I am pleased with the result but also with the quality of the performance we put in against such a strong side. The attitude could not have been better. The new training arrangements have had a good response from the players and we can look forward to our game at Marr in three weeks time with some optimism” |
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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 08 December 2018 |
KIRKCALDY 25 ABERDEEN GRAMMAR 27
Kirkcaldy's losing streak continued at Beveridge Park last Saturday but only after a fiercely contested match in which the lead changed hands several times. For their effort the Blues gained a richly deserved bonus point but even that was nearly snatched from them three minutes from the end when Grammar capitalised on a bad bounce and centre Murray Mitchell raced away to touch down under the posts to give Tom Aplin the easiest of conversions and the visitors a nine point lead.
The spirit which courses through Blue veins these days just refused to ebb and with the game already well into stoppage time flanker Dayle Turner exploded into space in his own half and went all the way and with Finlay Smith converting the home team were only two points behind once more.
This was yet another losing game in which Kirkcaldy fully tested more fancied opponents, particularly those with much longer experience of National 1 rugby. Gradually this squad is becoming accustomed to playing at this level and once into the New Year wins will accumulate
What made this performance all the more praiseworthy was the squad with which Kirkcaldy squad fielded was about half a dozen players short of optimum strength and even the coach had to take the field for the closing minutes. |
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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 01 December 2018 |
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KELSO 22 KIRKCALDY 10
Kelso had to wait until the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure their win but few would dispute that their win was deserved. The Blues had begun aggressively, bucking recent trends, and opening up a 10-0 lead with only eighteen minutes gone. They had dominated set pieces and break downs with the home team barely able to get a hand on the ball.
The game had begun in unfortunate circumstances with a big collision at the second ruck involving the home team's hooker Charlie Marshall and Kirkcaldy's Michael Harper. Both players lay in the ground for a time in some distress before Harper staggered to his feet while Marshall's game was over as he was assisted from the field.
The effect of Harper's knock seemed to wear off quickly as he spear headed a series of Kirkcaldy assaults on the home line The Blues had an intensity of purpose in the opening quarter which left the Borderers squirming in defence and a try could not be long delayed. From a maul from a 5 metre lineout Rhys Bonner drove over for a try converted by Finlay Smith. Kirkcaldy supremacy continued as Kelso were forced into a series of errors and penalties, one of which was kicked by Smith for a 10-0 Kirkcaldy lead in the eighteenth minute.
Things continued to go the Blues' way until the twenty seventh minute. An assistant referee spotted a midfield Kirkcaldy player drifting offside. This penalty went to touch before the Blues infringed again and Kelso stand-off Murray Hastie sent the kick between the uprights. |
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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 17 November 2018 |
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KIRKCALDY 36 SELKIRK 55 Not for the first time this season Kirkcaldy defensive frailty cost them dearly in the early stages of a National 1 game. With only twelve minutes played the Beveridge Park crowd had barely settled down as Selkirk scored three tries to a solitary counter for the Blues. Whenever the visitors had possession, a lot of it presented to them on a plate, they looked likely to score. The bonus point try came up five minutes later with the Borderers looking as if they could score at will.
Apart from a smartly taken solo Scott Anderson try born in a lineout tap down 30 metres out, Kirkcaldy were little more than spectators. Concentration levels, speed of thought and anticipation should have been much higher to cope with such a pacy team.
To their credit Kirkcaldy eventually came to terms with this quality side, gaining parity in the scrums and had a remarkable return in their losing cause of six tries. This was the third consecutive game in which Kirkcaldy had a torrid start with the opposition running in easy tries, just about taking them out of sight by half time. Only in the second half did the Blues really compete but even them they conceded counter attacking tries.
Director of Rugby Mark Henderson bemoaned yet another sluggish opening half hour but praised the second half recovery which earned a vital bonus point. “There was a flatness in the side from the kick-off and that gave them a racing start from which we never really recovered. Communication between players appears to be a problem just now and other opposition will take advantage as well as Musselburgh and Selkirk have done. Very much on the positive side, we buckled down in the second half and even with a second string front row we competed well. Apart from the defensive lapses there were a lot of positives to be taken, including the four try bonus point which could be vital at the end of the season. Michael Harper is improving every game at tighthead and he was also very active in the loose, carrying well. There was also a very pleasing debut for winger Timmy Kennedy, signed last week from Howe of Fife. He can be a real asset to our squad.” |
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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 10 November 2018 |
MUSSELBURGH 54 KIRKCALDY 22
The Blues were caught well short in the early kick-off game at Stoneyhill on Saturday. Behind 35-5 at half time against a team which oozed pace in every department, Kirkcaldy never totally caved in, and with another three second half tries managed to take a four try bonus point from the game.
Director of Rugby Mark Henderson was far from happy with the overall performance. “From the kick off there was a flatness about this showing. Too often we seemed to stand back and let them do the business. At the first try we were little more than spectators and gave them the easiest of seven points. Throughout the first half they were given too much possession which inevitably led to tries. Things improved after half time with much better focus. I was really pleased we scored four tries to get a bonus point which not many teams will get at Stoneyhill.
Musselburgh were especially strong behind the scrum and made the best use of some ill directed Kirkcaldy kicking. Lost possession became a growing problem for the visitors as the first half progressed and by the break the East Lothian side had touched down five, with the accurate boot of stand-off Danny Owenson slotting all the conversions the game was more or less decided by half time.
To their credit Kirkcaldy never threw in the towel and earned their single point with a courageous second half showing in which they matched Musselburgh's additional three tries. While the Blues back division was more or less at full strength, the pack lacked two of the front row trio with only Marcus Salt starting and even he had to retire injured. Soon after, the powerful Rhys Bonner had a recurrence of a past knee injury. |
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Written by John Methven
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Saturday, 03 November 2018 |
KIRKCALDY 32 JED-FOREST 40
An explosive start to last Saturday's encounter saw Jed-Forest lead before two minutes had gone through a penalty try and Kirkcaldy's Rhys Bonner being binned for a dangerously high tackle. Fortunes fluctuated throughout this spectacular game and it was not until the final whistle that the outcome was settled.
With less than five minutes left and Jed leading 33-32 the Blues forced their way towards the visitors 22 when the referee indicated a penalty in Kirkcaldy's favour and a possible match winning kick at goal. The attack rumbled on to the 5 metre line playing advantage, only for the referee to call “advantage over” indicating that Kirkcaldy had used up their advantage. This was a judgement few agreed with. From the resulting scrummage Ewan Scott went all the way to the home line for a try, the conversion, denying the Blues a losing bonus point.
Kirkcaldy forwards coach Kenny Fraser had nothing but praise for his side, “We matched the league leaders in most phases of the game and gave them one of their toughest games of the season. The very early penalty try and the yellow card and their second try were harsh setbacks. However we showed what we can do by leading 20-19 at half time. There was that advantage situation at the end where we were denied the chance of going for the winning score and that was disappointing. Overall all our players deserve the highest marks for an eighty minute performance”
Although the Blues replied strongly to their early setback, the second score came Jed-Forest's way. The home pack through a series of well controlled mauls took play to within touching distance of the Jed line only to lose control of the ball less than five metres from the whitewash. Swift hands saw the ball quickly moved away from that contact and Jed full back Lewis Young was away on his own with no Kirkcaldy tackler near him. With only eight minutes gone, Kirkcaldy were 12-0 down. |
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