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It was the Broughton Late, Late Show on
Saturday as they squeezed through against National League 3 side Lismore in the
1/4 Final of the BT Bowl at Wardie 19-18.
Going into the match as the underdogs, on
paper at least, Broughton knew that this was their toughest test of the season
so far and it was a great chance to see how we have progressed throughout the
season.
Broughton took the game to Lismore and acting
Captain, Dan Arrandale took his favoured 'up the slope' approach after winning
the toss.
Some of the home side looked a bit rough
after attending Club Secretary Mark Brown's wedding the previous evening but it
was first blood to the National 5 outfit after 17 mins when Hamer was on the end
of a back move to run in for the opening score. Guest couldn't managed the
extras but made up for this merely 5 minutes later when he slotted over a
penalty kick after the referee, who was wired up to the SRU appointed
touch-judges, spotted an infringement in the scrum. 8-0 Broughton.
Lismore's reply was instant and within
minutes of the restart, Broughton's MacLennan was penalised for pulling down a
maul which was gathering momentum down the hill. The kick was duly
converted to make the score 8-3.
Five minutes before the interval, the margin
returned to 8 when Guest slotted over a penalty kick after the, at times,
whistle happy official spotted an incident of foul play inside the Lismore half.
Half-Time 11-3.
With their favoured slope now behind them,
Broughton went out to finished off the fancied Lismore team and quick
penetrative play by the home backs caught the rear-guard offside. Guest
duly obliged with a further 3 points, almost putting some light between the
sides at 14-3.
Broughton's joy however was short lived.
A line-out inside the home 22 manufactured ball quickly for the Pleasance based
side and a thumping drive by one of the forwards resulted in the referee's arm
reaching for the sky to award a try. This was converted and the match was
now the tightest it had been all day at 14-10.
A double try whammy was completed on the hour
after a Lismore back went over for a score out on the far touchline which saw
the match swing in favour of the visitors for the first time. The
conversion attempt was not successful so after 3/4's of the match gone, the
match was finely balanced at 14-15.
Lismore has a further chance to put the game
out of sight 8 minutes before the end of regulation time. A penalty on the
Broughton 10 was awarded and as the ball left the boot of the Lismore kicker, it
looked good. However, it crashed off the bar and was cleared out of the
danger area.
The match looked all over with 2 minutes on
the clock as a weary Broughton defence were caught offside on the edge of their
22 and this time, it was an easy task for the 3 points. 14-18.
However, luck all good Cup matches, the drama
unfolded in the dying seconds of injury time. Having been unlucky in 2
previous attempts to breach the Lismore try line, the Broughton forwards worked
the ball back to Arrandale who's flat pass was taken on a perfect angle by Hamer
who waltzed in for the decisive score. Guest's conversion was wide but the
referee signalled for the end of the match and the Road to Murrayfield
continues....
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