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For the second week running Saints came up against strong opposition when they faced a team currently sitting at the business end of the league. The home side fielded what looked on paper a strong side hoping to reignite their league campaign.
In the first half play was concentrated between the respective 22 metre lines with neither side really taking the upper hand. The visitors behind the scrum were proving a bit of a handful and keeping Saints on their toes. Good positional kicking from the GHA half backs meant Saints were never really able to mount a serious attack and a penalty on the 10 minute mark allowed GHA to take the lead.
Five minutes later and another mistake was punished by the visitors. This was followed by yet another silly penalty and again GHA gratefully accepted the three points to open up a 9 point gap. With minutes to go in the half some weak defence let GHA in for a very soft try which they converted to make the half time score 16 nil to the visitors.
After the restart Saints took the game to GHA and camped themselves near their line. Repeated attacks were thwarted by the combined efforts of the GHA defence, the siege gun clearances of their Stand Off and Saints inability to convert scoring opportunities. At least six such chances went a begging before Robbie Davidson barged over for a consolation score. Try as they might Saints were unable to convert any further pressure into points. The final whistle blew with a frustrated Saints knowing they had let victory slip from their grasp.
This was a game Saints should have won and they must now face a crucial must win away game at Dunfermline who are sitting just below Saints on points difference but have a game in hand.
Team: Geddes, Macrae, Dunlop, Greene, Mather, McCornick, Satala, B Haggerty, Wiggins, Ainslie, S Currie, Richie Davidson, Yates, Robbie Davidson, Reid. Replacements: Montagu, Turnbull, Fraser Carson, Finlay Carson, Smith