GHK v Helensburgh 12 April 2014
For their last away fixture of the season GHK headed down the riverbank where they were, as ever, welcomed warmly by Helensburgh. Despite heavy overnight rain, the local volunteers had put in a shift and the pitch at Ardencaple looked fine indeed as the home side kicked off with a very significant wind at their back.
Helensburgh took advantage of the gale and immediately brought play deep into the GHK twenty two. It was not long until the over eager defence crept offside allowing a penalty opportunity to open the scoring. GHK were having to play a close driving forward game as kicking was not really an option as a means of gaining much territory. The visitors established a solid scrum platform in the first quarter and got in to some decent positions with good close interplay between forwards and backs. It was however ‘Burgh who added to their lead from a try on the GHK left when the home defence appeared to have over-committed. Ten nil to the hosts after twenty minutes.
In the early stages, a string of penalty decisions went against Helensburgh (much to the annoyance of the home players and support). However, it did appear that the referee had got most of the calls correct. His patience was finally pushed over the limit with one infringement too many and it was the influential home number eight who was invited to take a ten minute rest. GHK capitalised on their numerical advantage with a Nick Hurn try after a solid scrum in the Helenburgh twenty two followed by a series of controlled powerful drives. Scott Robertson added the extra points with a fine conversion in to the wind.
GHK continued to press but a huge wind assisted clearing kick turned defence in to attack giving ‘Burgh one last assault on the visitors’ line. GHK’s defence was good, but an infringement allowed the home side to stretch the lead to six points at the break with a further penalty. 13-7 at half time.
Turning to enjoy the support of the gale, it was expected that GHK would harness the elements and keep Helensburgh in their own patch. That was the plan, but the home XV clearly had other ideas. From the kick off ‘Burgh number eight, refreshed after his break on the touchline, powered through the GHK tackles taking play sixty metres deep in to the visitors’ half. Although it was literally the first play of the half, it seemed to inspire the home side and set the tone for the entire second period. Indeed it was to Helensburgh that the first scoring opportunity of the half arose, but a penalty was pushed wide.
Eventually GHK managed to get a bit of control and a fine kick set up a line out in the home twenty two. However, to their offensive efforts, Helensburgh added some dogged and committed defence making life very difficult for the visitors, who in fairness had been a bit disrupted by injury prior to and during the match. A lifeline appeared to have been thrown the way of GHK when a home prop was sin binned for being, well, a bit too lippy. What was said to the referee is not clear, however the boss was less than pleased.
Sadly for the travelling support and the GHK XV, the benefit of the extra man made no difference and ‘Burgh continued to dominate with snappy off-loading and great support play. It was no great surprise when Helensburgh added a second try with about fifteen minutes to go after repeated assaults on the GHK line followed by some smart handling. The conversion was missed but 18-7 looked like a winning lead and so it proved as, despite a lot of effort in the last fifteen minutes, the visitors could not cross the home line. It was a fine effort by Helensbugh and they were well worth the victory.
Final score Helensburgh 18 GHK 7
One game to go for GHK – let’s make it a good one when Newton Stewart come calling next Saturday.
GHK man of the match – Paul Polson

This article was posted on 15-Apr-2014, 07:49 by Hugh Barrow.