New Anniesland

Glasgow Accies 33-33 Marr

11th October 2025

This afternoon, I was treated to a prime example of The Power of Positive Swearing, and just how effective and efficient a factor in sporting motivation the old F Bomb can be.

Having spent the first-half of this match along the road at Hughenden, I wandered in at the break to find that Accies had clearly enjoyed a fine opening 40 minutes; having built up a 19-7  lead over their table-topping visitors.

Within moments of the restart, it seemed, two tries by Sebastian SING stretched the home side's lead to to 33-7, and I sorta thought that would be that.

Cue an expletive leaden rant/motivational speech (delete as appropriate) by (I assume) Marr captain David Andrew to his assembled huddled teammates, as they awaited the conversion attempt.  

"We're gonna fu**in' up oor fu**in' geme here, and score three or four fu**in' tries and win with this fu**in' match, tae fu**in' show them we want tae be fu**in' goin' up".  (Or words to that effect).  

I found it quite funny, as did a couple of the Marr players, going by their attempts to hide smirks.

But, blow me down, did it no (almost) work.  

As I said, I didn't see the first half, but what I did subsequently witness was Marr go on to dominate their hosts, scoring four tries and coming pretty darned close to granting Swearie Mary his request.  Had one Marr flowing move not ended with former Scotland Internationalist Mark Bennett throwing a simple-looking pass out of play rather than to his winger, I rather think the visitors would have won this encounter.

That being said, Marr were certainly aided in their quest, in no small part, by their hosts playing out a good part of the closing moments with two lads on the side-lines, they having been shown yellows.  

And, despite all this, it was Accies who had the opportunity to take the points with the final kick of the ball, but the replacement kicker shanked a slightly tricky penalty well wide.

As the player had stepped up to take the kick, a respectful hush descended upon the stand - then, just as he was about to kick, a baby went "waaah" to general amusement.  

I do hope the poor lad had not been put off by the child.

New Anniesland can be found in north west Glasgow, about five miles from the city centre.  It has been home to Glasgow Academical Rugby Football Club since 1902.  The club's ground prior to that (now called Old Anniesland) is presently in use by Glasgow High Kelvinside.

This looked like it was going to awfy sore to remove.