Waysiders/Drum 43 McLaren 26 match review

Nov 7 2012 by Colin Paterson, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

RBS WEST LEAGUE

DIVISION TWO:

WAYSIDERS/DRUMPELLIER 43

McLAREN 26

It has taken time but the Ian Morrison revolution at Waysiders/Drumpellier is slowly taking shape.

The head coach led his side to a second successive win at the weekend with McLaren feeling the full effects as to what this group of players are capable of on their day.

W/D scored seven tries in this RBS West League Division Two match which was played at St Andrew’s High School in Coatbridge.

The change of the venue did not have a negative impact on W/D who dominated the second half and clinched their first bonus-point win of the campaign.

Morrison’s men now sit in eighth place in the table – a dozen points clear of rock-bottom Cumbernauld although W/D’s struggling North Lanarkshire neighbours do have two games in hand.

“We’re delighted with the result and the performance,” said Morrison. “Some of the guys are really stepping up to the plate for us just now.

“McLaren are a young but competitive side. They aren’t very big and we felt we were able to take advantage of that.”

W/D trailed by one score at half-time but the coach revealed there was no need to panic with the players trusted to get the job done in the second period.

“McLaren’s backs were very good,” Morrison added. “They were throwing the ball around and scored two quality tries.

“We had to stay calm and play our game which is what we did. We kicked the ball into the corners in the second half and played the game down there.

“We stuck to what we wanted to do and eventually out-muscled them. To get a bonus point for the win was the icing on the cake.”

Gordon Anderson scored W/D’s first try with Robin Barte and Mark Gairn also crossing the whitewash for the home side.

Shane Armitage added another two tries with Liam McCoy touching down twice as well. Phil MacKenzie successfully kicked four conversions.

It was the display of McCoy, a big, powerful player who is difficult to stop, which caught the eye of Morrison as he reflected on W/D’s third league win of the season.

“I think Liam could prove to be a very useful member of the squad going forward,” the coach said. “He is raw but strong.

“He is a finisher and that is something I feel the club has been missing for a while now.

“We were desperate to see what he could do at this level and we’re delighted he got himself a couple of tries.”

W/D now have the next three weekends off as a result of the autumn international break. The next first XV match is on Saturday, December 1 when the in-form squad will make the trip to mid-table Carrick.