Allan Glens v GHK Match Report

Allan Glens RFC v GHKRFC Saturday 16 November 2013, RBS West League 1

Saturday saw the monthly resumption of hostilities between GHK and Allan Glens.
Having met twice already this season at Old Anniesland, GHK travelled to the Bearyards in the knowledge that, if they were to make it three wins out of three, they would have to be at their best to come away with a victory from this most difficult of venues.

The international break, and some first class physio and rehab (thanks Gill), meant that some of the GHK walking wounded had been restored to near enough full fitness. Pete Ritchie returned and Jamie McLean came in to the back row. Scott Davidson started on the right wing for the first time in a league fixture. The travelling support were keen to see the visitors get back to winning ways after two narrow losses.

It appears to be a legal requirement that virtually all club rugby matches take place on a pitch where there is a howling gale blowing from one end to the other. As it was at Irvine, GHK kicked off facing a significant breeze. After the initial exchanges, which were a bit fractured, it was Glens who opened the scoring with a penalty after GHK were adjudged to have strayed offside in midfield. A few moments later Scott Robertson opted to kick for goal but a combination of the strong gusting wind and his errant aim meant that Glens kept their narrow lead.

There was not a great deal of creative rugby in the first half and GHK’s rhythm was disrupted somewhat with injuries to the Mikes Aird and Borthwick. Thankfully both were able to resume after treatment. Just when it looked as though GHK were going to reach the break with only a three point deficit, the hosts launched a series of forward drives from smart line out possession close to the GHK line. Some great defence appeared to have repelled the Glens’ assaults. However, with what proved to be the last play of the half it looked as though the Glens right wing had crossed for a score in the corner only to be adjudged to have failed to ground the ball. Witnesses close to the action confirmed that indeed the winger had not scored ‘properly’. A bit of a let off for GHK, but a three point deficit at half time was a decent result for a good defensive effort.

The enthusiastic travelling support, with Mr AB Ally Brown cheerleading, were hopeful that the visitors would make good use of the conditions and generally up the tempo of their offensive efforts. They did not have to wait long as the second half was barely a minute old when flanker Jamie McLean broke out from a maul in mid field and scorched through a gap in the Glens defence for a try that Mike Aird converted.
Just the start that AB ordered. ( A mention in a match report is, of course, over and above the normal reimbursement for a player sponsorship!)

Five minutes later, following a series of very secure attacking scrums, scrum half Aird slid over for a try that was, in truth, made possible by the quality set play. The conversion slid by, but a 12-3 lead with less than ten minutes gone in the half was a neat turn around for GHK.

We knew that this as a hard place to come and get a result, and any notion that Glens’ spirit had been broken was quickly dispelled as they got stuck in to their visitors and were not in the slightest affected by the relentless gale. They had noticeably upped their game and got their reward just after the hour mark with a well worked try and the lead was reeled back to a mere two points when the conversion was added.

What GHK needed to close out the game was to find the form that they had shown in the opening ten minutes of the half. Some fine kicking from Scott Robertson kept Glens turning and good play in the tight kept the pressure on the hosts. The superior fitness levels of GHK were also beginning to tell. A finely judged Robertson kick gave rise to a lineout in the Glens twenty two. A catch and drive put more pressure on the home defence. Glens were penalised and GHK opted for a scrum. A series of drives culminated in a try by Pete Ritchie converted by Scott Robertson. 19-10.

The final GHK score was almost a carbon copy of the first. Good possession from a scrum driven on and eventually the line was crossed by the tireless Jez Hanks. The try was not converted. We think Scott Robertson took too long. Anyway, the precious bonus point had been achieved.

Final score Allan Glens 10 GHK 24

A fine win at a venue where any win is hard earned and a bonus point win is very welcome indeed.

Man of the match – a few contenders, but Jez Hanks, for a tireless display rounded off with that fourth try, gets the nod.

Well done guys – back on the winning rails.

Well done supporters – you clearly enjoy fresh air and looking windswept

And for those of you not wanting to know the England score, look away now.
They lost.
Shame.

This article was posted on 16-Nov-2013, 23:06 by Ronnie Gourley.

This article was posted on 18-Nov-2013, 11:02 by Hugh Barrow.