HAMILTON under 18’s v HAWKS under 18’s.

Score: Hamilton 3 Glasgow Hawks 17 ( Half Time Hamilton 3 Glasgow Hawks 5)

Another week, another road trip for this fledgling Hawks side.

The boys took the short trip to Leigh Bent to face a Hamilton side who had proved tough opposition for the two sides; Ayr and Dumfries; who had recently caused this Hawks side such grief. They had lost by only solitary scores to both, and had proved a stern test for Hawks at home in the second match of this season. All these signs pointed to another difficult match for the boys, and so it proved.

The first half began with a tough forwards battle; skirmishes (all fair and in the spirit of the game) moving up and down the park. Neither side establishing the dominance required to break into the others twenty-two, nor make the breakthrough on the scoreboard. Hawks were struggling with their lineout, and breakdown. Hamilton’s forwards were exerting pressure from their own lineout ball, and Hawks’. Their driving mauls and early breakdown area superiority giving their backs quick ball which had the Hawks scramble defence tested to the limit. These tactics eventually paid off with a penalty awarded to Hamilton which they duly converted to take the lead just into the second quarter of the game.

This seemed to spur Hawks into a much more focussed state of mind as their reply was almost immediate, a well taken and executed try. The remainder of the first half played out in much the same vein as it had started, Hamilton’s “unbelievably quick” rush defence spoiling any decent ball Hawks were getting from set piece play, and some unconvincing tacking by Hawks lead to the boys finishing the half under more pressure than they should have been.

After some firm advice (though I’m certain friendly) by the coaches at half time saw a more intense and committed Hawks take to the paddock for the second period of this match. Parity at the scrum and breakdown saw Hawks rewarded with much more possession to try to use effectively. The line out still was giving the boys problems, and the coaches’ high blood pressure, though it also improved as the match wore on. Again we can work and improve on this in training. Where, to be fair the stats would show that the first half was mainly Hamilton’s, the second was certainly Hawks, the hard yards and effort being rewarded with two tries, one of which successfully converted. Play started to break up as tiredness began to take its toll, and Hawks were unlucky not to score from a couple of great breakaways. Credit to the Hamilton defenders who had the energy and commitment to track back and make the try saving tackles.

Some may be tempted to describe Saturday’s game as “one for the purists”, but the conditions were certainly not conducive for an open “Fancy Dan” game. So all credit to the boys for playing the conditions, and a very stubborn and well organized Hamilton outfit, who certainly wanted this game just as much as Hawks did. The match itself was hard but played in good spirit by both teams.

Thanks to Hamilton Rugby club for a good game, and excellent hospitality following it.
The Major.

This article was originally posted on 20-Nov-2012, 07:29 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 20-Nov-2012, 07:30.