AYR under 18’s v HAWKS under 18’s.

Well, a trip to Ayr, to face the “runaway” league leaders was going to show just how much the troops had learned……………

A frosty reception awaited us at Millbrae; the surrounds were glistening with a white dusting, and occasional flakes of snow; huddled together seemingly for warmth on their chilly descent to earth. Thankfully the home side had wrapped their home turf in sheets to keep it toasty! So the match was on……………………………………….

The guys took advantage of our hosts’ seemingly endless round of photo calls (pretty in pink springs to mind – go ahead and edit this…) to get some drill work done, left , right, left……………..

The game kicked off at a frantic pace, and continued thus for the first quarter. Both sides trying to establish dominance, and impose their game plan on the other. Hawks were managing to keep the ball alive through multiple phases of broken play. Shifting the point of attack, and moving the ball quickly through the hands, Hawks forwards and backs combined well to play a very “fluid” game. This was probably our “best” period of the game, and showed that we can bring difficult challenges to bigger packs through the pace that our forwards posses. We managed to move them about the park, and keep their defence on the back foot.

When we lost possession, our line speed, and discipline in defence nullified any threats our opponents posed. So far, so good. A great breakout leftfield saw Hawks kick and chase clear through on the Ayr 22. The Hawks lad was “taken out” on the chase, and the official saw fit to reward the Ayr defender with a “red” card. No advantage, points wise accrued from this, and a no doubt aggrieved Ayr team managed to clear the immanent danger.

The initial to and fro pattern of play continued for several minutes, till some very good break down work saw Hawks win a penalty on the Ayr 22. A successful kick saw Hawks put the first points on the board.

Ayr 0 – Hawks 3.

Ayr were spurred into action by this and camped out in the Hawks 22, pressurising the away teams defence. This resulted in an Ayr penalty 5 meters out from the Hawks line, Ayr chose the scrum option, and this looked to have backfired when Hawks took it “against the head”. However a very quick rush defence from Ayr resulted in a clearance kick not going right, into touch, but left into the unchallenged waiting arms of the Ayr centre, who gratefully strode 5 meters and dotted down under the posts. The simple conversion taken;

Ayr 7 – Hawks 3.

The half ended as it had started, only the home support was noisier now!

Ayr shot out the blocks in the second half, only for the Hawks to intercept in midfield and run clear through, a lovely dummy thrown, and final offload saw Hawks score.

Ayr 7 – Hawks 8. Kick missed.

Some how we contrived to loose any momentum gained, and Ayr driving mauls started to work, and Hawks again found themselves under extreme pressure on their own line. A clearance kick was followed by an Ayr line out, won and quick ball to their scrum half, driving mauls followed and the ball was touched down under the posts. An easy conversion followed.

Ayr 14 – Hawks 8.

The home team, and crowd, smelled blood, and more Ayr pressure; compounded by poor first up Hawks defence resulted in another try from a rolling maul. This “score” was hotly disputed as the official was on the far side of the maul when the ball was td’d, and a Hawks player came up from the “pile” with ball in hand. But…………

Ayr 19 – Hawks 8.

Converted:-

Ayr 21 – Hawks 8.

Hawks had lost all shape by this point, and the falling snow must have hidden the “offside line”, as again Ayr pressure and poor Hawks defence allowed another Ayr score under the posts. Easy conversion:-

Ayr 28 – Hawks 8.

Now whether the boys looked deep inside and saw that again “they” were loosing the match, it was not being won by great play from the opposition. Or whether they just got “fed up” with the noise from the home support; but; something snapped……….

Kick off challenged and won by Hawks, run in under posts, sound familiar?

Ayr 28 – Hawks 13. Converted. Ayr 28 – Hawks 15.

Hawks exerted great pressure from the kick off and a series of rucks and mauls took place in the Ayr 22, ball turned over, and won back again. The mood was changing.
Hawks won ball, and some nice interplay between forwards and backs saw the defence drawn, held, ball offloaded and quick passing through the hands eventually exploited the overlap out wide. Try Hawks.

Ayr 28 – Hawks 20. The angle proved too much, and the conversion was unsuccessful.

It was the home sides turn to experience the doubts now! It was all Hawks as the boys pushed all the way for redemption.
Again Hawks won the kick off return, and they thankfully ran the ball back under the Ayr posts, I swear you could hear the snow flakes land on the roof of the Ayr stand by this stage.

Ayr 28 – Hawks 25. Converted.
Ayr 28 – Hawks 27.

There was no time left for a miracle recovery and the whistle blew to end the match. No doubt a great spectacle for the neutral, don’t think there were many of those there, but again hard to take for the Hawks. So near yet so far.

It’s difficult to be too harsh on the boys when you pause to think how far they have come as individual players, and as a squad in this their inaugural season. They have very nearly “turned the tables” on sizable defeats from the two sides finishing above them in the league. They have qualified for the National Cup last 16, and an away trip to Biggar beckons next weekend. Its all coming together nicely, “this time next year”!

The Major.

This article was posted on 25-Jan-2013, 17:14 by Hugh Barrow.