Currie 15 Glasgow Hawks 48

Reward

“Bless my cotton socks I'm in the news”
The Teardrop Explodes sang that about learning to get their reward and, as Hawks ran in 7 tries, the words rang true for the Glasgow side. You could say that Hawks were too hot for Currie to handle, you could, but that would put too much emphasis on Currie. The truth is, if you had seen this match and the previous games, this was a reward. A reward justly deserved for all the hard work put in by the whole squad, a reward for perseverance after a series of narrow defeats which could have been disheartening, a reward for Jimmy and Jamie for the belief they have had.
As has been the pattern with Hawks this season, they started at a ferocious pace and an early penalty was put into the corner. The lineout was won cleanly and Currie had to infringe giving away a penalty in order to stop the Hawks’ maul. Razor sharp, Hawks’ gallic scrum-half, Patrick Boyer took a quick tap and was over for the opening try in the 4th minute. James Gormley added the conversion and then added a penalty to put Hawks 10 points to the good in under 10 minutes. (0-10)
During the next period of play Currie had what was to prove their best spell. The home back line seemed to be cutting through the Hawks back-line at will, giving away a succession of kickable penalties. Hawks were fortunate that Currie teenager George Horne missed to, in the 9th and 11th minutes before finally scoring with his third attempt in 13 minutes. (3-10)
Then before 20 minutes had passed, the scores were tied after Currie opened up the Hawks defence again. This time Currie wing Harvey Elms found himself in open space after the ball had passed from Ethan Pollock to Karl Main before the wing received the ball. As Horne added the extras, the scores were level and the visiting support had a distinct feeling of déjà vu. (10-10)
Even when Hawks’ inside centre Jack Steele gathered his own kick and dived over for a try, after bursting through the midfield with Currie’s defence taken by complete surprise, there was little other than the 7 point lead to suggest what was to come after 20 minutes. (10-17)
The pack had been dominant in the line but they were now starting to dominate the scrum and as their superior scrimmaging started to grind the home pack down. The front row of Steven Findlay, Finlay Gillies and Brendan Cullinane had the best of their opposite numbers. Time and time again this season, Hawks front row have shown that they have adapted superbly to the re-invigoration of the scrum laws this season. With this dominance enabling the back row to run freely at the retreating Currie line.
After 25 minutes Ross Miller seemed to be in a scoring position but Currie were fortunate to make him put a foot in touch as he prepared to run in. A big scrum in the home 22 just before the half hour saw Currie pushed backwards conceding a penalty. This went to touch and the lineout took clean ball which saw Miller take the pass peeling down the blind-side for the try. As Gormley goaled Hawks had a substantial lead after 30 minutes. (10-24)
Ascendency was Hawks and sensing their advantage they sought to push it home. The score line overall does not reflect this effort because if Currie had not defended vigorously the score would have been a lot worse. Half –time was a minute away and the strength of the pack allowed a platform for Hawks to attack. Miller picked up the ball from a scrum, putting the pass to Boyer who released Andy White and then Steele seemed to be about to put out the scoring pass. Suddenly the ball went backwards as home stand-off batted the ball forward deliberately conceding the knock on but denying the score and receiving a yellow card for his misdemeanour but psssibly lucky not to concede a penalty try. So Hawks were denied the bonus try at half-time.
If the first half had started with Hawks playing at a high intensity they raised it even further as the second period began. The visiting support did not have to wait for long for the 4th try as Gillies popped up in the backline to run in from the wing position for a try in 45 minutes. (10-29)
Within minutes Steele broke through again and Ally MacLay was unlucky to find himself pushed into touch by a desperate Currie wing. There was now no longer any doubt about the result as Currie reeled in shock seeking only to maintain their pride. Boyer secured his place at the top of the league try scoring table with a second in 55 minutes which Gormley converted (10-36)
Even the second half replacements saw no change to the pattern of play, with Jack Macfarlane and Craig Bachurzewski putting further pressure on the battered home front row. After 65 minutes it seemed that Hawks wing Haddon McPherson looked to be through but his opposite number, Ruaridh Smith, pulled off a superb tackle to deny the try. It was to prove a score postponed when McPherson secured his score of the right wing in 72 minutes, his 5th of the season, joining Boyer on the list of the top scorers in the league this season. (10-41)
The home support were looking to their watches, wondering when they could seek solace at the bottom of a pint glass when Currie managed a late try from Horne. Scoring sharply from close range even this was contestable as he appeared to play up quickly enough but not with the original ball. (15-41)
It was scant consolation for Currie as Hawks finished the game in the faces and the half of the home team. The ball was spun left in Curries half and Gormley beat the home cover running in for his own try in the games last move which he then converted himself. (15-48)
As the final whistle blew there was feeling that Hawks had got there reward for effort in this match and throughout the season so far. It may be the case that media coverage is less than it should be, but still this result will be seen as a statement that Hawks are capable of destroying sides through their own strengths and on their own terms.

“Suddenly it struck me very clear
All wrapped up the same
You can't have it
I can't have it too
Until I learn to accept my reward”

This article was posted on 6-Oct-2013, 10:39 by Hugh Barrow.