THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS


Glasgow Hawks 27
Melrose 13

BEFORE Saturday's intriguing clash at Old Anniesland, Melrose coach Craig Chalmers suggested that his young side was growing in confidence and that they showed signs of having enough faith in their ability to really put a game together.


That became evident as they made it tough for a Glasgow Hawks side who, finding themselves 13-10 ahead early in the final quarter, were unable to produce the late surge which has become their hallmark of putting sides away late in the game.

Chalmers was understandably disappointed. "We certainly did enough to take a point from that game," he said. "We are playing some good rugby and I truly feel that our position in the league does not reflect the way we are performing. Hopefully we will start to get the rub of the green soon."

Melrose, who went into the game frustrated with their defeat by Watsonians the previous week, welcomed back James King at full-back, Cameron Murray in the centre and Geoff Caldwell on the wing.

The Melrose defence had to be on top of their game from the whistle, but their discipline and refusal to buckle in the face of wave after wave of Hawks attack was reflected in the scoreline, only a Steven Duffy try deep in injury time adding to the slender 6-3 lead, Mike Adamson having slotted two penalties to James King's one.

Melrose rung the changes at halt-time, with Andrew Gillie and Stuart Johnson brought on to bolster the forwards, but Hawks responded with a change of their own, bringing in captain Eric Milligan, who had surprisingly made way for Nick Cox in the starting XV. Melrose's changes seemed to have little affect as Hawks continued where they left off.

The second-half pattern was similar, with Hawks' support and interplay between backs and forwards a delight to watch. The feisty Melrose defence held firm for the most part until centre Karne Kaufana scythed through the Hawks defence from 40 yards out for a spectacular score.

A Mark Sitch try four minutes later was Hawks' retaliation, but when Scott Ruthven slotted a penalty with ten minutes to go, it looked as though Melrose would salvage a richly-deserved bonus.

Fate played them cruel when referee John Steel, whose concept of time, it was suggested, might baffle Steven Hawking, played nine minutes over, and with Melrose assuming that the next stoppage meant the final whistle, halted for a knock on. Adamson snaffled the ball, scampered through under the posts and converted to give a cruel final scoreline of 27-13.

"Melrose did deserve something from the game," admitted Hawks forwards coach Chris Docherty, before, in the manner of his mentor of the last couple of years at Old Anniesland, hastening off to 'consult' John Steel. It must be something to do with front row men!

"The team have adapted very well to a different style of game this season," said Hawks head coach David Wilson. "And with the ground conditions likely to get worse then we will have to adapt to that again, but I am sure the players will cope. With regard to the championship, our fate is in our hands and we can only throw it away now."

Wilson admits that sides are raising their game when they face Hawks and that Melrose were no exception, making Hawks work really hard for their scores.

That will be of little consolation to Melrose, whose valiant efforts to secure a consolation point where crudely foiled by those extra added minutes. Despite that, they should take comfort in knowing there is still a reasonable gap between them and bottom side in the table, Stirling County.

Scorers: Glasgow Hawks: Tries: Duffy, Sitch, Kaufana. Cons: Adamson 3. Pens: Adamson 2.

Melrose: Try: Kaufana. Con: Ruthven. Pens: King, Ruthven

Glasgow Hawks: M Strang; S Low, A Maclay, S Duffy, S Gordon; M Adamson, R McKnight; N Cox, S Fell, G Macfadyen, S Warnock, R Maxton, S Forrest, M Sitch, N McKenzie. Subs used: E Milligan, M Smith, I Kennedy, N Caddell.

Melrose: J King; G Caldwell, C Murray, K Kaufana, M Robertson; S Ruthven, G Thomson; I Cornwall, G Innes, R Higgins, J Bradburn, S Aitken, J Dalziel, M de Franck, R Miller. Subs used: A Gillie, S Johnson, D Whiteford, W Mitchell.

Referee: J Steel

This article was posted on 14-Nov-2005, 09:33 by Hugh Barrow.