This week I start with thanks and an apology.

Thanks to the Hawks followers with better eyesight than myself for spotting
my deliberate mistake in last week's report.

Apologies to Kris MacDonald for wrongly crediting Kerr Gossman with the opening
try against Ayr. Kris is about 5' 8" with a red streak through his hair.
Kerr isn't and hasn't. An easy mistake to make.

Dalziel were our visitors yesterday having beaten Hawks 20-12 in our first
game at Dalziel thanks to two late tries. Dalziel arrived as the second placed
team in the league and the only team to have taken points from leaders Greenock,
drawing at Greenock and winning at home.

Hawks were reduced to a squad of 18 players due to a contingent of Kelvinside
Academy pupils attending a cadet course. However we welcomed back Calum Kerr
from Duke of Edinburgh Award duties - surely playing for Hawks Under 15s
merits the award without further tests.

Hawks attacked Dalziel from the whistle with Kris MacDonald charging through
tackles into the 22 before offloading for support runner Jamie Murphy. Unfortunately
the ball fell just behind Jamie and Dalziel hands got to the ball and knocked
on just as hooker Stuart McCallum arrived. Scrum to Hawks. This was to set
the tone for the next 60 minutes.

Hawks attacked in wave after wave pinning Dalziel back into their own half,
but Dalziel also showed why they are in second place with some fine counter
attacks which stretched the Hawks defence from one side of the park to the
other.

Hawks finally took the lead when captain Kris MacDonald surged over the line
following a period of sustained Hawks pressure. Euan Robertson goaled the
conversion.

Dalziel came back into the game and after setting up an attacking position
on the Hawks left wing, moved the ball superbly along their back line ending
in a try in the opposite corner.

Hawks were awarded a penalty just on the Dalziel 22 after yet another period
of pressure. Kerr Gossman kicked the none to easy kick.

Dalziel came again at Hawks, and were awarded a disputed (in the eyes of
the Hawks support) try in Hawks left hand corner. The Dalziel player appeared
to have been tackled into touch, knocking the flag down before grounding
the ball. However, referee Glen Woollard took advice from the touch judge
and awarded the try.

Half Time Glasgow Hawks 10 Dalziel 10

Hawks unbelievably increased the pace and intensity in the second half. Almost
all play taking place in the Dalziel half with Dalziel reduced to a couple
of long range attacks from their own 22 which petered out before reaching
Hawks 22.
Hawks forwards took the game to Dalziel, mauling and rucking with tremendous
skill and commitment, harrying the Dalziel backs into mistake after mistake.

Dalziel were forced into giving away penalty after penalty from which Euan
Robertson sent kicks back into the Dalziel 22 to set up attack after attack
for Hawks.

The breakthrough finally arrived when Calum Kerr broke through the Dalziel
defence to touch down in the left hand corner.

Hawks continued to attack, but Dalziel defence held out to the final whistle.

Final Score:

Glasgow Hawks 15 Dalziel 10

This was THE performance of the season so far. This was an amazing team effort
with no failures, and match winning performances throughout the team. The
players showed that they are capable of taking on the best. We have to keep
the momentum going into our final league game next Sunday, when Ayr are the
visitors in the second leg of a Hawks/ Ayr weekend.

Gordon

This article was posted on 13-Dec-2005, 09:06 by Hugh Barrow.