Irvine Rugby Club lose out to ref's decision

Mar 13 2009 Irvine Herald

Alastair’s try Spice-s it up for Marress Men

IT was a double-header at Memorial Field on Saturday as both Irvine teams took on local rivals but it was an afternoon of mixed fortunes with the 1st XV going down to a narrow 19-16 defeat in their Premier 3 match and the 2nds easing their relegation worries with an 18-0 win.

In the top team clash Irvine made their usual fast start as the visiting pack exerted its authority but they failed to take advantage until midway through the half when Sean Christie put them into the lead with a well-taken penalty.

Ardrossan were level ten minutes later after Irvine transgressed at the scrum for Wilson to slot over but Irvine regained the lead two minutes later with a fine try when Christie pinned Accies back in their own 22 and they were forced to kick for touch.

A clean take saw the pack drive the game forward and, when the ball was released to the backs, Alastair Spice sliced through the home defence to score, with Christie adding the conversion.

On the stroke of half-time, yet another penalty was given against Irvine, inexplicably after the home team had sealed the ball off on the ground, and Wilson cut the deficit to leave the Maroons with a 10-6 interval advantage.

The second half brought a slew of penalties to both sides with Wilson bringing Ardrossan to within one point after Irvine were adjudged to have held on on the ground, but Sean Christie hit back in the 52nd and 56th minutes to stretch Irvine’s lead to seven points.

Wilson then brought the home team to within four points with yet another penalty to set up a dramatic finish and, with the tension at breaking point, Irvine’s Tony Wright was sent to the bin for swinging arm at an opponent.

With the game in time added on and Ardrossan camped on the Irvine line, Lewis Armstrong joined Wright on the sideline for illegal use of the boot to leave Irvine with only 13 players and, in the ninth additional minute, the ref ran out of patience after a series of defensive penalties and awarded a penalty try to Ardrossan which Wilson converted to give Accies a 19-16 win.

However the 2nds lightened the mood by following up their massive win over Ardrossan two weeks ago with yet another victory, this time by 18-0, with tries from Lewis McKee, Gary Kerr and Raymond Festorazzi.

This moves the team further away from the relegation area, and they welcome Lenzie to Marress for their next game on March 28.

Just seven days earlier the 1st XV make the long journey to Ellon for yet another vital match against a team in the relegation zone.

Despite Saturday’s defeat Irvine look as if they will beat the drop and a win over the Northern lights would just about secure their Premiership status for another year.

Other results. Kirkcaldy 79, Ellon 7; Cartha QP 11, Hillhead/Jordanhill 20; Perthshire 18, Livingston 3; Falkirk 28, Garnock 10; Morgan Acad FP 14, Dunfermline 10.