Newton Stewart v GHK Match Report

Newton Stewart -v- GHK Saturday 28th September 2013

Use your sat nav, Bing maps, even an AA road atlas, take the high road, low road or any road you like. There just isn’t a particularly quick and/or straight road to Newton Stewart.
Anyway, a punctual departure from OA meant that the GHK squad arrived at Bladnoch Park in excellent time to allow for recovery from the journey and also for a full pre-match warm up. In addition, there was plenty time for the non players to sample the delights of lunch and a couple of fine ales at the Bladnoch Inn, and rather nice they were too. Excellent pub grub enjoyed in the Galloway sunshine – a pre game ritual that will have to be repeated.

In terms of local attractions, the Newton Srewart/GHK fixture was competing with the Wigtown Book Festival, a few miles up the road, where Joanna Lumley was featuring as one of the key performers this weekend. We cannot say what sort of crowd Ab Fab Patsy drew to the festival, but by kick off time a decent number of Newton Stewart faithful had gathered at Bladnoch Park and they saw the home side get the game under way in what amounted to perfect conditions. As is frequently the case, the early stages saw both sides trying to assert themselves and, to be honest, there were one or two indications in the first few plays of the game that the GHK scrum might be in for a difficult day. After a few set pieces that were well and truly messed up by the Newton Stewart eight, the GHK front five, indeed the entire pack, dug in and were able to set a decent platform on their own ball.

Play was sort of confined to the area between the twenty twos with not a lot in terms of serious assaults on either line. However, a fine break by the home right winger was halted a few metres from the GHK line by a great cover tackle by Hugh Parker. For the visitors, Davie McKeown was put in space deep in his own half and looked to have got all the way to the Newton Stewart try line only to be denied at the death. It was not until we were in to the last ten minutes of the half that the scoring deadlock was broken, at first by a penalty from Davie Reed and then, from the restart, a try by Nick Hurn after a powerful break by Danny Hoffmann. The try was converted and from nowhere GHK held a very welcome ten point advantage. As important as claiming those precious points was keeping a clean sheet for the remainder of the half and, thanks to some dogged defence the visitors succeeded in keeping out the border raiders. 10-0 to GHK at the break.

From their own restart GHK reclaimed possession and took play to just outside the Newton Stewart twenty two where a home infringement gave Davie Reed the chance to add another three points to the visitors’ tally. The chance was duly accepted and you could sense that GHK had upped the intensity ever so slightly, but in a keenly contested game it may well have been a critical change in tempo. The visitors were starting to ask more questions of the hosts defensively and GHK were rewarded further when Nick Hurn, continuing the very welcome seasonal tradition of multiple try scoring second rows, powered over for his and the visitors’ second try with barely five minutes of the second period played. The try was converted by stand off Reed and a twenty point lead, even this early in the second half, looked to have put GHK in a very strong position indeed.

Colin Neilson took the place of Paul Polson who had given his all in a very hard fought forward battle. The GHK scrum had settled quite well by this time and this was also a day when their line out was pretty slick. It was throughout a very physical encounter with players from both sides requiring treatment and general patching up. Mike Borthwick’s head cut significantly diminished the bandage supplies in the GHK first aid bag. Scott Cameron, Nick Hurn and a number of others required attention from physio Jill who did a sterling job.

Newton Stewart were rewarded for their persistence with a penalty just outside the visitors’ twenty two and their left winger kicked the three points. Just short of the hour a fine break by Mike Aird saw him put Nick Hurn in space. Only a last ditch tackle denied the lock forward of his hat trick of tries.

Inevitably, both sides were starting to tire, possibly the hosts more so. There did seem to be a bit more space on the park. However, the hits were still going in and nothing was being conceded easily. Play was, for the main part, taking place in the Newton Stewart half. Danny Hoffman went close as did Hugh Parker. It was following one of his pick-ups from a scrum that, after a few batters at the home defence, space was created that allowed Callum Ruxton to squeeze over in the left corner. The conversion was just out of range. 25 – 3 to GHK with about seven minutes to go.

With the scent of a bonus point in the air, GHK tried to push on but were probably just a wee bit anxious. It was in fact Newton Stewart who had the last laugh when, after a rumbustious charge form about sixty metres range, they ploughed over for a fine score which was converted. In the few moments that remained GHK tried to get back in to a try scoring position but to no avail.
Final score : Newton Stewart 10 GHK 25

GHK player of the day – Adam McLay

Thanks to all at Newton Stewart for their warm (positively balmy) welcome, hospitality and a game fiercely contested and played in a great spirit. Unlike our last visit to Bladnoch Park, GHK came away with a win. This continues the unbeaten start to the season and I do believe that makes GHK the only side in League 1 with an unblemished. record thus far.

Today we also learned that : -
• You can pass the time away on a long bus journey by attending to your personal grooming regime. It may well be that an exclusive range of Hon Pres cordless travel shavers will be available shortly.
• The river by the delightful Bladnoch Inn is, and you may not believe this, the Bladnoch. It took all the investigative powers of two past presidents to discover this.
• In addition to a very fine menu, reasonably priced crisps and nuts are also available at said hostelry.
• The travelling supporters are offering to do a pub/restaurant review at an away venue. The Bladnoch will take a bit of beating.


After today’s round of results, it remains the case that this looks like a very tight league indeed and GHK are in a good place but acknowledge the many major challenges that lie ahead. There is an awful lot of rugby to be played.

Next week GHK take a break from league duty with a Shield fixture against Allan Glens at Old Anniesland. The sides met a few weeks ago and it was a close encounter. Next week is likely to be another fine contest. Come on down and support the lads.

This article was posted on 29-Sep-2013, 12:13 by Alistair Wood.

This article was originally posted on 29-Sep-2013, 18:18 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Russell Sim on 1-Oct-2013, 09:24.