ACCIES’ opponents for the first home league fixture were Preston Lodge Rugby.

More than 20 years had elapsed since the East Lothian team last played at Memorial Field but over the past few seasons they have found continuous success as the steadily progressed into National League rugby.

In perfect conditions, Preston Lodge kicked off ith a moderate wind advantage directly behind them, The Accies receiver spilled the ball giving the visitors the first put in at the scrum.

The visiting no.8 Paul Voy picked up at the base of the scrum and charged into the Accies 22 to set up a ruck where the hosts were awarded a penalty when a Preston Lodge player entered the ruck from the side. A tap penalty was quickly taken and the ball transferred out to Andy Duncan who burst up the right to take play to the halfway line but when tackled the ball bounced into touch.

Accies opened their account in five minutes when Jack Anderson kicked a penalty after the visitors had gone offside at a ruck.

Accies made several positional changes in 10 minutes after outside centre Bruce Hunter retired with a dislocated shoulder, Mathew Grant came on with Jason Dagledenis moving onto the left wing and Nathan Welsh moving to centre.

With Accies still falling foul of the referee Preston Lodge were dominanting possession.

Accies broke the Preston Lodge attrition when Mathew Grant harassed his opposite number at a scrum and released Alan Wilson up the blind side and play was taken into the visitors 22 for the first time in 20 minutes. Accies were awarded a scrum 10 metres from the Preston Lodge line but an almighty shunt by the big visiting pack drove them back and the danger was cleared.

Due to the number of constant penalties the game was never going to be a spectacle of free flowing rugby and despite the referee talking repeatedly to both captains no yellow cards were being produced.

Accies had a chance to add further points in 40 minutes but the wind sent Jack Andersons kick narrowly passed the upright.

Straight from kick-off Accies increased their advantage after Jack Anderson nailed a 30-metre penalty to put his side on six points.

Another Mathew Grant “steal” on the 12th minute released Alan Wilson whose pass outside found Jason Dagledenis on the left wing and his deft chip ahead took play deep into the opposing 22, where Accies were awarded another penalty and up stepped Anderson to add another threee points.

On the hour, Jack Anderson punished a Preston Lodge indiscretion by kicking a penalty from the halfway line to put Accies on 12 points.

Five minutes later the hosts came close to a try after an Innes Frazer drive was stopped inside the opposing 22. The ball was recycled to Ben Hamilton who fed Alan Wilson and his pass found Jason Dagledenis five metres from the line but he was bundled into touch while in the process of touching the ball down.

With four minutes of normal time left, Preston Lodge finally scored. A penalty in front of the posts was quickly taken and No 10 Greg Walker touched down and the conversion was good .

Straight from the restart Accies drove midfield into the opposing 22. Wilson was standing in the “pocket” and duly dropped a goal off the rucked ball, to put his side 15-7 ahead.

Three minutes into injury-time Preston Lodge scored in the corner after a good lineout take and drive by their big pack resulted in tight head prop Nick Hart touching down but the conversion was missed. With one minute of injury time to go Accies pressed the self-destruct button while their visitors played the “get out of jail free” card.

The next stoppage of play would bring the game to a close. Instead of kicking as far upfield as possible, Accies gave the ball back to Preston Lodge and their big pack drove forward for the try line and from a mix of bodies the referee decided that Hart again had scored the winning try although the conversion was missed.

ARDROSSAN ACCIES: A Duncan; J Paterson, B Hunter, J Anderson, N Welsh,A Wilson, J Dagledenis, B Hamilton, I Totic, I Frazer, E Thomson,G Telfer, M Marinkovic, S Lamont, J Thomson. Subs: S Campbell, M Hood, S Leitch, M Grant.s For the full story see this week's Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald.