Date: Saturday, 5th March 2005
Kickoff time: 15:00
Against: GHA
Team: Hawks 1st XV
Location: Home
Competition: Premiership Division 1
Final score: 34 - 25 (won)

Hawks lack zip against doomed GHA, but title is within grasp. IAIN MORRISON AT ANNIESLAND ANYTHING can happen in a derby match and pretty much everything did in this one; nine tries, two yellow cards and a lead that changed hands an astonishing nine times. At the end of all this action, Hawks are still on course for their second successive title and GHA are occupying a relegation spot after Watsonians’ win over Melrose. The kickoff was delayed by ten minutes to allow referee Graeme Hannah to extricate himself from Glasgow’s traffic and then the match was held up for another five minutes when GHA flanker Callum Forrester collided awkwardly with the opposition at the kickoff and had to be stretchered from the field with concussion. When play finally got underway, a young GHA team showed spirit and skill in spades, but ultimately proved unable to match the power of a home team that seriously under-performed. Winger Wes Henry grabbed a hat trick of tries but there were few Hawks who can claim to have put in a full shift. The scoring started as early as the tenth minute when Ally MacLay’s looping pass put Henry into the corner and the same man touched down again either side of half time to keep his side in the driving seat. But GHA proved they were not merely making up numbers as Barry Edgar kicked a penalty and a break from scrumhalf AJ McFarlane sparked a try from winger Rory Watson. Hawks allowed one kickoff to bounce into touch, gave up a free kick and two plays later Edgar found himself on the end of a huge overlap to dive over in the left hand corner and grab a 15-12 lead for GHA that they took into the half time dressing room to everyone’s surprise. The free scoring continued in the second half as Alan Bulloch put Edgar over for his second touchdown and Hawks bulldozed their way over from a five-metre lineout with Steve Begley claiming the try. With Andy Williamson and Ian McKinnon sin binned, GHA kicked another penalty to regain the lead with 13 minutes left to play, but it was more than enough time for Hawks to respond as the home side scored two more tries through Mike Adamson and Peter Dalton to take the points if not the honours HAWKS SQUAD FOR CITY DERBY HAWKS SQUAD TO PLAY GHA AT OLD ANNIESLAND ON SATURDAY MATCH SPONSORS BIGGART BAILLIE DICKSONS BALL SPONSOR SHERBROOKE HOTEL THE 2XV PLAY HERIOTS AT GOLDENACRE Flair game likely as GHA face champions HARRY PINCOTT WITH both coaches telling their sides to put width on the game and play at a fast pace, Old Anniesland could stage a high-scoring encounter between Glasgow Hawks and GHA this afternoon. David Wilson, the visitors’ coach, is a realist and appreciates that beating the champions on their patch is "a tall order". "We’ve nothing to lose, really," he said. "Hawks are a very good team, so no-one expects us to win. I want our guys to go out and play some rugby and enjoy themselves. We played well to beat Ayr two weeks ago, but Hawks are another level up and we have to be committed." Even if they lose, GHA have another four games to save themselves from the drop, and all are at home, against Melrose, Aberdeen GSFP, Currie and Hawks again. As for Peter Wright’s men, who trail leaders Heriot’s by a point but have three fixtures in hand, their coach’s instructions will be simply "to run GHA ragged by putting width on the game". The former Scotland player added: "The pitch has not been played on for weeks, so it should be in excellent condition. I’m looking for the players to win well and set themselves up for winning the championship and getting to the semi-finals of the cup." No team list has been added yet.

Bulloch and Sitch Duffy back for Hawks HATRICK BY WES HENRY MAN OF THE MATCH

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