Irvine v GHK Saturday 26th October 2013

On this day in history, well to be absolutely honest, unless you include my late mother’s birthday, not that much happened. OK, it also happens to be Austin Healey’s birthday, but I suspect that we won’t feel the urge to celebrate that particular event. On 26 October 1951 Churchill, the war hero not the wee dug, won the General Election for his second term as Prime Minister. Buoyed by the bulldog spirit that was that gent’s trade mark, the GHK squad continued their league campaign with a visit to Irvine, whose current position in the division (fourth) probably did not represent where our hosts stand in terms of capability and performance. In truth this was more like another first against second encounter. As was mentioned on the GHK website in the build up to this fixture, it really was one on a series of potentially season defining games that were being encountered by GHK as competitors lined up to try and knock them off their top spot in League 1 of the RBS West Division.


The GHK coaching cabal sent out a side that showed a number of changes from the starting XV that saw off Helensburgh last week. Patrick Cleave, Cammy Brown, Nick Hurn, Jez Hanks and Paul Polson were all rested/rotated/injured/unavailable and their places taken by Scott Robertson, Adam McLay, David Sewell, Gordi Reid and Hugh Parker. These changes would tend to confirm that there is genuine competition for places in the first XV and reasonable strength in depth. However, visits to Maress in recent seasons have proved very challenging for GHK and they travelled to Irvine in the knowledge that only the best would do in terms of performance against a side that had themselves achieved some eye catching results in the league this season.

With the kind of twisted outlook that only Scottish weather provides, it was about 2.55 p.m. when the first drops of forecast rain began to fall. It was not long until the light shower developed in to a persistent downpour and that, allied to a driving wind, proved to be very influential features on how the game was to unfold. As it was, Irvine took advantage of the elements in the first half and, with that wind at their backs, kept GHK in or around their twenty two for the majority of the opening stages. Irvine possess a strong pack and midfield backs that were able to set a platform for their forwards to attack. Perhaps predictably, the home side were pushing hard to capitalise on the territorial advantage that their play and the elements were presenting. However, a very structured and committed GHK defensive performance neutralised much of the Irvine offensive efforts. Every player contributed to a resolute defensive effort in this period, Captain Ritchie leading by example ably assisted in particular by Mike Aird, centres Hoffmann and McLay and the back row.

Irvine thought that they had opened the scoring when one of their centres, running a good line, took a short pass and appeared to have breached the GHK line, only to be called back for the scoring pass being adjudged forward. That was a well worked move by Irvine and, up to that point, it was the only time that they had pierced the visitors’ midfield.

It would be fair to say that the Irvine kicking game had not really made full use of the wind advantage in the first half. The drookit dozen or so GHK supporters were looking to the half time whistle to give them and their team a bit of respite. However, as the game entered the closing stages of the half Irvine opened the scoring. First from a penalty awarded against GHK for what was not entirely clear. In any event the Irvine kicker still had a bit to do in converting the kick from about fifteen metres in from touch wide right about twenty five metres out. He steadied his nerves, mastered the buffeting wind and struck the ball sweetly between the posts. First blood to Irvine, 3-0 after thirty three minutes.

In what was obviously going to be a low scoring game, you could almost sense the GHK contingent willing the referee’s watch round to the forty minute mark. However, Irvine managed to get themselves back in to the GHK twenty two. After several drives close to the line, the home number eight, Filander, dived over for a try that was converted, this time from wide left, giving the home side a very handy ten point lead at half time. It has to be said that, to a number of those watching, it did appear that there were at least two episodes of crossing in the lead-up to the score and this may have disrupted the hitherto very composed GHK defence.

With the wind, rain and backing of their supporters GHK got the second half under way. Not surprisingly, at every opportunity boot was put to ball and Irvine were, for long periods, confined to deep in their own half. However, the home side, particularly the bakk row, half backs and centres played a very smart defensive game. The Irvine number 7, Maxwell, had a storming match. He made ground every time he had the ball in hand and linked well with his fellow forwards allowing his side to drive their way out of defence on numerous occasions. The fact that Irvine were able to do this not only allowed them to play some of the half in GHK territory (when the actually threatened the line on a few occasions) but also appeared to lift the spirits of the entire team and galvanised their own defensive efforts.

GHK suffered a setback when Pete Ritchie had to leave the field with an upper body injury. Hugo Lough took the captain’s place. Another Scott Robertson kick ahead seemed to have fallen nicely for the home full back and winger. However, cold hands, indecision and the pressure applied by winger Marc Taylor and the aforementioned full back resulted in the ball squirting free and allowed the GHK number fifteen to slide over for a try. Davie Reed’s conversion was pushed just wide. 10–5 to Irvine.

There was still the best part of twenty five minutes for GHK to try and win the game. Despite getting in to a few decent positions, they never really threatened the home line, save for one series of drives that were well repulsed by the Irvine team who defended confidently. Colin Neilson replaced Adam Johnston and Robin Coates came on for Davie Reed. Everyone gave their all but despite a fair amount of huffing and puffing Irvine closed out the game without too many alarms. Indeed, their own driving game, as mentioned above, carried a threat to GHK right up to the end.

This article was posted on 29-Oct-2013, 07:16 by Hugh Barrow.