Date: Friday, 14th March 2014
Kickoff time: 19:30
Against: Ayr
Team: Hawks 1st XV
Location: Away
Competition: Premiership Division 1
Final score: 7 - 32 (lost)

Ayr 32 Glasgow Hawks 7 Ayr 32 Glasgow Hawks 7 From, The Wasteland by T. S. Eliot “APRIL is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. “ Okay so poetic licence is needed, it wasn’t April and it wasn’t a whole month but it was a cruel March night. It was chilly without being cold, but for Hawks supporters there was little to warm them on this night. This cruel night on the eve of the ides of March. There were no lilacs, instead snow drops raised their heads from the dead land and witnessed Hawks worst defeat of the season. Hawks had only conceded more than 30 points in a match this season and that was at Old Anniesland against Ayr, but on that occasion Hawks were far more competitive. Early pressure had Ayr assaulting the Hawks line with a battering ram it appeared that the Glasgow side had held out when they cleared the ball from their in-goal but the ball failed to make touch. Ayr winger, Robbie Fergusson launched a counter attack before chipping the ball over the Hawks cover this set Ayr’s number 8, Peter McCallum up with the chase and with a fair bounce of the ball he was in for the opening try which Finn Russel put over for the goal. (7-0) Hawks were lively and came right back at Ayr, Hadden McPherson looked especially threatening. The Hawks line seemed close to a breakthrough when disaster happened as, Warriors’ pro, Mark Bennet, intercepted the pass. The Cumnock youngster burst through and into open space and was almost at the half-way line when he was shepherded by the Hawks defence. He put a pass to Kerr Gossman who was then able to link with Dean Kelbrick, the centre running for the remaining 50 metres for the score. With the extras missed hawks were two scores down in 15 minutes. (12-0) A loy of comment was made in the stand about the presence of a number of Warriors players and there is no doubt that in the lineout the presence of a Al Kellock as a jumper and Dougie Hall as a thrower made a difference similarly with Russel and Bennet in the backline. But despite this mismatch the Hawks tried gamely to make a match of it. In 20 minutes, Michael Martin made a break and ate up 20 metres supported by Ally McLay but Ayr’s cover smothered the attack. Paddy Boyer was tenacious at ruck and maul struggling against an Ayr pack the referee appeared to have given carte blanche too. When Ayr scored again in 25 minutes, there were few surprises and Stewart Fenwick made the hawks position dire as he scored from close range. (19-0) Hawks managed to staunch the flow in the run up to half-time only conceding a solitary penalty in the run up to half-time. (22-0) Whilst the second half started in better fashion for the Hawks it didn’t take the men in Pink long to get on the front foot and nail Hawks coffin shut with the pacy Bennet securing 5 points for Ayr. (27-0) To an extent there was a degree of damage limitation and Hawks did well to restrict Ayr to a solitary Peter Jerecevich try in 74 minutes. McPherson’s try in 78 minutes was but a consolation and you could see from the anger in the visitors eyes that they understood that even their best efforts could not overcome this strengthened side. Truth be told on the night the better side had won and Hawks faced the fact that they still were not secure in the division. As the supporters muttered darkly about the presence of the professionals in the sides, Jimmy Sinclair and Jamie Dempsey were quick to point out that Hawks had benefitted on a number of occasions particularly with the presence of Scott Wight and Fin Gillies. The roundabout had come round and it was simply unfortunate in it’s timing. As day breaks and minds turn to next Saturday a messenger arrives to tell me that Accies have been beaten by Nails and Hawks’ season’s efforts have been rewarded with an invitation to next season’s top party. To paraphrase the bard… “But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and the Nails are the sun.” Ayr Tries​McCallum 11, Kelbrick 15, Fenwick, 28, Bennet 50, Jerecevich 74 Con​Russel 11, 28 Pen​Russel 35 Hawks Tries​McPherson 78 Con ​Smart 78 Hawks and Ayr served up a very different encounter from the last time the met at Lochinch in the Cup in February. The seasiders blew their Glasgow rivals inn efficient and structured manner, leaving the home side delighted with this win at their last home match of 2013-14. Rucking well and recycled the ball gain hard yards and Hawks did well for a time but something had to give. Hawks appeared to have cleared the danger but the Ayr wing Robbie Fergusson put a kick over the Hawks cover from the visitors ten metre line. The race was on and home number 8, Peter McCallum won the case for the ball to put Ayr ahead. Hawks’ responded well and within minutes were challenging the Ayr line but an unfortunate interception saw Glasgow Warrior, Mark Bennet, intercept the pass and he broke through with scintillating pace. Peter Jerecivich was on hand to take the pass and he in turn offloaded to Dean Kelbrick who ran in from half way. With Ayr, 12 points clear Hawks were struggling at this reverse and Ayr turned up the pressure. In the circumstances Hawks did well to keep Ayr at bay but it was only a matter of time before Ayr put up their third score as Stuart Fenwick went over for their third try. Ayr were 19 points clear with less than half an hour gone. However Hawks rallied and managed to hold Ayr out until the half-time only conceding a solitary penalty in the last ten minutes of the half. The second half started in better fashion for Hawks but Ayr’s defence were parsimonious and after absorbing a deal of pressure eventually swung back into attack as Bennet scored a five pointer and secured a try bonus for the men in Pink. It was now a case of damage limitation for Hawks and they frustrated an Ayr side who were giving no quarter, the expected avalanche was resisted until the 74th minute when Jerecevich went over for a well deserved try as he had been a thorn in Hawks flesh since coming on from the bench. When Hadden McPherson went over in 78 minutes it was as a result of a gargantuan team effort. Dan Smart added the conversion but by then the match had been over for some time. Hawks go into their last match knowing that a point is still needed. No team list has been added yet.

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