The New Year's Day Ba' 2013 was certainly a game of two halves. The Doonie pack dominated the early period, pushing the Ba' off Broad Street into Castle Street before 2pm and through the car park towards Junction Road.
However, the Ba' was moved over the wall into the corner of Tullock's yard and with the Uppies in control, it was held there for the next 2 1/2 hours until darkness fell. The defining point of the game came at about five to five with an audacious smuggle by 2002 Christmas Day Men's Ba' winner Garry Cooper. As chaos reigned on the back road caused by multiple dummy breaks, the Ba' was carried up the street past players and spectators to Pipersquoy Road beyond the Uppie goal. Once the Doonies discovered what had happened, the scrum reformed near the Balfour hospital and headed back down towards Mackinson's corner. Despite some valiant Doonie defence, the Ba' struck the wall on the second attempt at 17:43. After a short struggle, Greig Rorie (Acker) was raised aloft with his trophy just before 6pm. |