GHK 20-13 Cumbernauld


GHK entertained the travelling 3rd place team in National League 5, Cumbernauld, at Balgray on Saturday. GHK were keen to continue their outstanding league form, which would see them finish 2005 unbeaten if they got a result against Cumbernauld and next weeks opponents, Strathendrick.


The squad for Saturday’s game was disrupted a number of times throughout the week and even in the build up to kick off with players unavailable and two starting players pulling out of the squad during the warm up due to illness. Luckily the coaches have developed a strong first XV squad from which they could call on players that would make most other starting XV’s in the league. Stuart Pollok and Stuart Hunter pulled out before the game, replaced by Alex McLemon and Ali Smeaton. Neil Gilmartin (Pollok’s lineout partner) was not available so Fergus Wallace, fresh from a rugby holiday in Dubai came back to fill the bench role.


From the kick off, Cumby showed their intentions of playing their usual brand of expansive, running, inventive rugby and kept the ball from GHK in the opening 10 minutes and went ahead with a penalty from their scrumhalf. GHK could not get a hold of the ball and were constantly being penalised at the breakdown and the resulting catch and drives were putting pressure on the GHK line.


The hosts were struggling with no recognised lineout jumpers in the squad, so it was not surprising when Cammy Little took a quick tap penalty rather than kicking to touch. The ball was moved wide and a good back line move allowed Ali Smeaton to feed Andy McTavish and the big winger galloped in for the opening try of the game.


The GHK back line was looking dangerous every time they got the ball and were cutting the visitors to shreds out wide. Chuck McElroy and Olly Jones made good breaks but some basic handling errors let the home side down. Cumby were not out of the game and a trademark rolling maul resulted in a try for their player coach David Jamieson, converted by their scrumhalf.


GHK responded immediately when some good rucking by the forwards on the right hand side produced quick ball, which was moved out to Smeaton who cut back in and beat two defenders on the way to the line. The conversion slide past to put the half time score level at 10-10.


The home team brought on Fergus Wallace to add considerable experience to the GHK team and the change brought a new dimension to the side with Cumbernauld defending for the majority of the second half. Dave Fearnley, playing his last game for the club before moving to France for work, was everywhere and creating good go forward ball for the exciting GHK back line. It was not long until GHK got another try on the board with Olly Jones picking a lovely angle to burst the Cumby defence and go over at the posts to make Millan’s conversion a formality.


GHK were struggling in the lineout but were dominant in the scrum. The GHK front row were getting the shove on the far heavier (and supposedly experienced) Cumby front 3 and the ref had to constantly reset the scrum instead of possibly penalising the Cumby pack for popping up and spoiling the game.


GHK were pressing hard for the bonus point but it was not coming their way with handling errors, penalties or individual mistakes not going their way. Cumby struck a penalty in their only visit to the GHK half but it was all GHK with quick, running rugby and some quickly taken line outs by Gordy Reid allowed Fearnley and Colin Donald to charge up field but it was too little too late for the home team and the whistle went with the score 20-13.


The silver lining to the fact that GHK failed to get a bonus was the news that main opponents for league glory, Marr, had failed to pick up a bonus point in their victory against Strathendrick. This leaves the league unchanged with Marr one point ahead but GHK having a game in hand. Next Saturday sees GHK travel to Strathendrick, which is sure to be an extremely tough encounter. Kick off is 2pm at Ruth Menzies Field, support is welcome.


Team: Smeaton, McTavish, Jones, Millan, McElroy, Little, McFarlane, Forbes, Lohar, Welsh, McLemon, Cram, McKinven, Fearnley, Donald, Reid, Wallace, Rand

Man of the Match: Ryan Welsh

This article was posted on 12-Dec-2005, 13:37 by Hugh Barrow.