MARR RFC v GHKRFC Saturday December 8, 2012

Anyone who has been following the fortunes of the teams playing in Division 1 of the RBS West Regional League would be well aware that, in taking on Marr on their own patch today, GHK were facing as difficult a challenge as they might reasonably expect to confront throughout the entire season. GHK made the trip to Troon minus a few ‘first pick’ players who were absent for a variety of reasons. However, a committed and capable GHK squad took to the field ready to take on the league leaders.

GHK kicked off and the home side were quickly in to their stride demonstrating their brand of abrasive forward play combining with slick handling and incisive running in the backs. Thankfully, the GHK front line defence was up to the challenge and made an early statement that they were more than prepared to face down the home attackers. However, after five minutes, having repelled several Marr assaults, GHK were penalised and this allowed the home side to open the scoring with a penalty from just outside the GHK twenty two.

Up to this point GHK had not spent any significant time in the home half, however great pressure from the re-start brought it’s rewards and for the first time Marr had to do some defending. The GHK pack secured several phases of ball and some sniping round the fringes by Mike Aird, Danny Hoffman and the back row culminated in a penalty being conceded by Marr and Davie Reed took the three points with a stylish penalty wide right about twenty five metres out. 3-3 after eight minutes.

It was clear even in these early exchanges that not only do Marr have a potent back line, but also a street-wise and combative pack who wasted no time in securing possession and setting a platform in the GHK twenty-two. The visitors’ defence was seriously resolute and appeared to have snuffed out the last a several thrusts by the Marr pack only to be frustrated when the referee penalised GHK deep inside their own twenty-two. It seemed a pretty marginal call but matters were made a whole lot worse for the GHK when the referee produced a yellow card for Mike Borthwick. There was certainly nothing obvious that merited such a sanction and the player himself was denying responsibility (of having come in from the side). Oh yes, just to complete a less than perfect few minutes, Pete Ritchie had to leave the field with a blood injury.

Marr opted not to go for goal taking the scrum instead. The advantage of the extra man prevailed and almost inevitably, after some forward combinations, space appeared and they were over for their first well worked try. The extra two points were added with the conversion. 10- 3 to Marr after fourteen minutes.

GHK, despite being a man down, were still very much in the game. Prompted by Mike Aird, the forwards contested every yard of territory with their opponents, often doing a whole lot more than simply disrupting their possession and actually taking the game to their much lauded opposition. There is undoubtedly a steely quality to Marr and when they get a sniff of a chance they do tend to exploit it.
They added a further three points with a penalty after about seventeen minutes and shortly thereafter their backs, and in particular their back three, demonstrated just why they have the reputation of being the most dangerous running unit in the league by crafting a fabulous move, all done at speed, and crossing over for their second try of the day. Even the visiting support joined in the generous applause for a piece of quality rugby. It was converted and the lead stretched to 20-3 with about twenty-five minutes gone.

The next Marr score followed a few minutes later and to be honest this was perhaps the only one where GHK might collectively feel that they might have done better. However, having said that, the Marr three-quarter was travelling at great pace and it may have been that he just happened to have all the angles in his favour as he burst through a crowded midfield and touched down over the line for try three. Again the two extra points were added. 27-3 just short of the half hour.

Gregor Hollerin, who had put in his fair share of tackling in the centre today, gave way to Scott Robertson. GHK enjoyed a lot of possession at this period and for the first time in the match the GHK backs were asking questions of the home side. In addition the forwards, in particular Pete Ritchie and Tommy Horton, but the pack in general were taking it to the Marr eight and gained territory and possession.

A break by Danny Hoffman and Aubrey Horton put Rory Love in to space down the GHK right. Rory cut in and was halted about six metres short of the Marr line. He sustained an injury in the pile up that followed. A Marr player was yellow carded. A man to the good GHK pressured the Marr line. Aubrey Horton was held up just short and GHK were unable to make the advantage count. Half time 27-3 to Marr.

Marr got proceedings under way in the second half and immediately GHK took up where they had left off before the break. They took the game straight back in to Marr territory and were clearly anxious to get a foothold back in the game. Marr are a resilient and combative side and were not going to concede anything lightly. Something of a melee involving about a dozen or so players broke out on the far side from where the writer was positioned. I think, and I can put it no higher than that, that Craig McPhee and a Marr player were yellow carded. In any event, Craig McPhee left the field with what looked like a nasty gash to his face.

GHK continued to press but the Marr defence, even depleted, was a pretty mean force and gave nothing away. Having survived a spell of GHK pressure, Marr went up the park and from a good attacking position they drove over for another converted try. 34 – 3 to Marr. This was harsh on GHK.

The tireless Pete Ritchie had to leave the field at this point to be replaced by Fraser McLeod. Every one of the GHK squad, all nineteen of them, put in a serious shift. It was not simply a matter of trying to contain a very able Marr side. They tried and did play some positive and expansive rugby. This was evidenced again by a great break involving Gordi Reid and Aubrey Horton that took GHK to within the shadows of the Marr posts, but again the home side’s utter commitment to not conceding a try was clear for all to see.

Another quality backs move saw try number five for Marr take their points tally to thirty nine (no conversion – every little helps). The very last play of the game saw a further converted try by Marr to take the final score to 46 – 3. This was a match that was in fact far more competitive than the final score suggests.

Today we had confirmed that Marr are a very good side indeed. They have backs that make breaks, run hard and are playing with belief and confidence no doubt born out of hard work and a series of convincing results. They also have a streetwise pack and a couple of game managers who make things happen. They were deserved winners today although the margin might flatter a little. It does rather look as though they are indeed the champions elect.

GHK went in to the game knowing that this was a challenge. The early yellow card to Mike Borthwick, such a key player for GHK, was at very best marginal and quite possibly wrong. Aubrey Horton was penalised for being offside in open play when in a very promising attacking position with support available. GHK were penalised for not releasing when the ball carrier had not even gone to ground. Whilst it could be said that Marr put pressure on GHK and accordingly they (GHK) might therefore be likely to commit more offences, I don’t think that was the situation today. It was just that a lot of critical calls appeared to go against GHK and when up against the quality of Marr, parity on that front is very much needed. It must be stressed however that the outcome of the game was not determined by the referee. A very fine Marr side won with a bit to spare.

We wish them well for the rest of the season, February 2nd 2013 being the exception!
This article was posted on 9-Dec-2012, 23:50 by Ronnie Gourley.

This article was posted on 10-Dec-2012, 08:41 by Hugh Barrow.