Kilmarnock v GHK Match Report

GHK v Kilmarnock RBS West Region League, Division 1, Saturday January 11, 2014
Saturday saw the resumption of league fixtures with GHK being the first foots at Bellsland to take on Kilmarnock in a match that would go a long way to determining what the rest of the season might hold for both sides.
It was a GHK side that showed a number of changes, both in terms of personnel and positionally, that took to the field. Injury and unavailability had not been kind to the visitors in the run up to the game. However, after getting proceedings underway, it was the GHK XV that quickly got in to their stride and, despite the predictably heavy conditions, moved the ball well through forwards and backs and began to stretch the home defence. After getting in to the home twenty two, Killie strayed offside and Scott Robertson opened the scoring with a penalty that looked straightforward, but in the conditions was anything but simple. 3 – 0 to GHK.
Whilst Kilmarnock did respond reasonably positively, it was still GHK that carried the greater threat in the early exchanges. Scott Robertson was kicking well, Danny Hoffmann was making ground in the centre and leading the kick and chase game that was getting the visitors into good positions. From a line out five metres from the home line, Mike Borthwick thought he had driven over, but the referee adjudged he was held up. Further assaults on the Killie line were repelled and despite a period of pressure and presence near the home line, GHK could not add to their slim lead.
A powerful breakout by the home hooker took play deep in to the GHK half and the scramble defence conceded a penalty that allowed the Kilmarnock stand off the chance to level the scores. And so he did. 3 - 3 after twenty minutes.
Scott Robertson was off target with another penalty attempt that was just on the limit of his range on what was a challenging surface for kickers. The GHK forwards were competing well with the larger Killie eight and a further drive upfield saw Paul Henderson commit defenders to the breakdown where another offence was spotted by referee Longton. Scott Robertson’s penalty attempt rebounded from the cross bar. Mike Borthwick was first up and the supporting GHK forwards created a fine attacking position for the visitors. Possession was retained and eventually the ball moved right where Jez Hanks touched down in the corner with the referee adjudging that it was clearly ball down before contact was made with the corner flag. Another excellent Scott Robertson kick added the extras. 10 – 3 to GHK.
As the half moved in to the closing stages there was a bit of a scrap involving a number of players. The referee dealt with it as best he could having only the one pair of eyes. One last GHK attack took play back in to the home twenty two. Another penalty was conceded by Killie and the offender yellow carded. It looked like one of these situations where the referee may have said that the next infringement would result in ten minutes in the bin. Scott Robertson brought the half to a close by adding a further three points to give the visitors a ten point lead at half time. 13 – 3 to GHK.
Kilmarnock kicked off and managed to play out the remainder of the ‘man down’ period without further damage to the score line. They followed that up with the first try of the half when the home right winger barrelled through a few tackles and touched down wide right. A successful conversion brought the lead back to three points. GHK called for fresh legs with Colin Neilson replacing Cammy McLay.
That try seemed to lift the home spirits and Kilmarnock were enjoying a lot of possession, territory and momentum appeared to have swung in their favour. A further try followed when, after a period of pressure, the home loose head ploughed over out on the left wing! Kilmarnock’s positive start to the half had been rewarded well and demonstrated how to turn good field position in to points. A fine conversion made the score 17 – 13 to Killie with about a quarter of an hour to go.
Kieron Boles came on for Gordi Reid who had put in a sterling shift against a formidable pack. There was a confidence about the Kilmarnock play by now. The home backs were starting to show their pace and good handling skills. This coincided with the arrival of a replacement scrum half for Kilmarnock. His sharp service and general all round play seemed to add a new dimension to the threat carried by the Killie line in particular.
GHK were trying to dig deep, but time spent in Kilmarnock territory was fairly brief. The home scrum was starting to disrupt GHK ball, and whilst possession from the scrum was being secured by the visitors, it was not ball that could really be used in an attacking sense. Another powerful Killie breakout cut through the home defence and a third try was the reward for some very clinical finishing by the home backs. An excellent conversion followed and with less than ten minutes to go GHK faced a 24 – 13 deficit.
To their credit, GHK rallied and put pressure on the Kilmarnock line. A series of drives sucked in the home defence and, when the ball was moved left, that man Hanks was there again to cross for a try. Scott Robertson was wide with the conversion. GHK were six points adrift with the game moving in to the closing stages.
In the last few minutes GHK could not manufacture a position from which they could seriously threaten the home line. Ultimately, it was Kilmarnock who struck the final blow, with another try on the left and, needless to say, the conversion followed.
Final score Kilmarnock 31 GHK 18
A deserved victory for Kilmarnock. They scored some fine tries and obeyed the rule that says when you get in to a good position, you come away with points. GHK had their chances , but once Kilmarnock took the initiative, they seemed to struggle to re-establish themselves in a game that was well within their control for long spells in the first half. It is a challenging period for GHK. There is still a lot to play for and hopefully a return to winning ways is only a week away.
GHK man of the match – Jez Hanks

This article was posted on 12-Jan-2014, 23:41 by Ronnie Gourley.

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This article was posted on 14-Jan-2014, 08:35 by Hugh Barrow.