GHK v East Kilbride 22 March 2014
League rugby – remember that? It has been a while.
Anyway, the long awaited resumption of RBS West One fixtures saw GHK make the trip to East Kilbride who, as their own programme notes acknowledged, had given the visitors a comprehensive doing when the sides met at Old Anniesland towards the tail end of last year. The EK President did acknowledge that his side’s display on that occasion had been ‘by a distance our best performance of the season’. That did rather suggest that if GHK were to get anything out of today’s fixture that only the very best would do. Thankfully for the visiting support, and indeed the entire GHK entourage, the players brought their A game to Torrance House and earned a fine victory that keeps the season simmering nicely.
The home side got proceedings under way and quickly set up their driving game with forwards taking the ball in midfield and engaging with the GHK defence which, thankfully, was very much up to the challenge in the early confrontations. GHK acquired some possession of their own and took play in to EK territory. The penalty calls were going the way of the visitors and it was no great surprise when Scott Robertson opened the scoring with three points after a home infringement just outside the twenty two. In the remainder of this first quarter GHK dominated possession and the home forwards continued to try the referee’s patience. Scott Robertson doubled the GHK lead from another penalty and further advantage came the visitors’ way when EK flanker John Watson was sin binned after the referee had issued a ‘next offender is going off’ warning. 6-0 to GHK after twenty minutes.
GHK were dominating territory and possession and appeared reasonably comfortable against a side who had bossed the game at Anniesland in December. However, as we all know from bitter experience, a game can turn in a moment. From one of their few forays in to the GHK twenty two, East Kilbride contrived to lose their own line out, but pressure on Scott Robertson’s clearing kick saw the charge down carried over the line by skipper Gareth Jones and EK register the first try of the match. The conversion attempt was well short and we had the visitors’ lead reduced to the narrowest of margins.
GHK resumed their high pressure/high tempo game and continued to play out the half in East Kilbride’s twenty two. The line was threatened a few times, but the much sought after try did not come. Nevertheless, much to the annoyance of the home support, the referee continued to penalise the EK forwards in particular. When another opportunity was presented, Scott Robertson slotted his third penalty to make the half time score 9-5 to GHK.
The EK side that had dominated GHK in the reverse fixture had not been in evidence in the first half. That probably had something to do with the intensity and focus shown by GHK in that first period. It was expected that the home side would up their game and indeed in the early stages of the second half East Kilbride took the game to the visitors and cranked up the pressure. The penalties that had been flowing the way of GHK were now falling to the hosts. Kilbride full back Scott Shankie missed a couple of attempts at goal and in what was always looking like a low scoring game that proved to be significant.
GHK weathered the early storm and were able to take the game back in to the home side’s half. Greg Woolard had kicked well all day and brought play in to the EK twenty two. That was just about his last act as shortly thereafter he had to depart the field with what looked like a shoulder knock. Callum Pender replaced the scrum half with Mike Aird moving in one to number nine, full back Robertson at stand off and sub Pender at fifteen. The rearrangements did not disrupt the GHK momentum and pattern of play. The entire squad competed for everything with a degree of intensity that gave them the edge over the hosts. When an EK threequarter move broke down, the ball was hacked on in to the home twenty two by the predatory GHK back row. The home defence appeared to have recovered possession albeit close to their try line. However further follow up pressure saw Connor Gallagher rip the ball from the defender and crash over for a critical score. It was a try born out of desire, pressure, fitness and a determination not to allow the opposition a moment's respite. The bonus of a great conversion by Scott Robertson from wide left was indeed the cherry on top. 16 – 5 to GHK going in to the last quarter.
Try scorer Gallagher and Cammy Maclay departed to be replaced by Nick Hurn and Neil Mitchell. The anticipated onslaught from EK duly materialised. There was however a steel and maturity about the visitors and EK were limited to a couple of kicks at goal. Resilient GHK defence kept most of the home side’s offensive efforts at distance. Although two penalties reduced the lead to five points, you could almost sense that GHK were confident that East Kilbride would not be able to inflict the sort of damage that they had done in terms of try scoring in the previous encounter. The visitors did receive a let off when a kickable penalty chance was missed by the EK full back. However, a couple of further drives in to the home half reaped reward when EK infringed giving Scott Robertson the chance to restore the eight point gap. He did so and what wind that was left in the East Kilbride sails evaporated allowing GHK to close the game out at 19 – 11.
Tremendous credit is due to the entire GHK squad and coaching team for getting themselves ready for today’s game. The hard work, most of which was done off the pitch over the last three months, paid dividends today. The venue and opposition could not have been more daunting, particularly after what happened when the sides last met. No unit within the GHK XV allowed themselves to be dominated by their opponents. The set plays were excellent. The tackling and defensive lines were redoubtable. There was a purpose and momentum to the GHK play that got a result at a venue where many teams struggle. By the conclusion of proceedings even the home support, who were their usual lively selves throughout, generously conceded that the visitors had been worthy winners. Thanks to all at EKRFC for their welcome and hospitality. Good luck for the remainder of the season. (And a personal thank you to my EK colleague for the loan of a pen otherwise these random notes would have been even more speculative).
GHK have kept their season alive. Well done lads – probably your most complete performance of the campaign. Keep it going and you just never know.......
GHK man of the match, a close call from the entire squad, but for his critical score and as hard a forward shift as you are likely to see all season, it goes to Connor Gallagher.
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This article was posted on 24-Mar-2014, 13:18 by Hugh Barrow.