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GHK 122-7 Hillhead


GHK entertained lowly Hillhead on Saturday on the back pitches at Old Anniesland in a quest to continue their challenge for league honours. There were a number of changes to the side that played against West the previous week but every player that came in staked their place for a first XV jersey for the league run in and just emphasised the strong squad that GHK have built up over the season.


Murry Stewart, Alex McLemon and Jp Higgins came into the pack and Bill Criggie, James Small and Stuart Hunter into the back division, 3 of these 6 players making their first start for the first XV this season. With nearly perfect playing conditions, GHK hoped to put some points past Hillhead in an attempt to generate a superior points difference in the league, a goal which they accomplished with relative ease.


The bonus point was wrapped up within 10mins with Andy McTavish, Rory Love, Stuart Pollock and Ali Smeaton all getting early scores. James Small and JP Higgines were getting around the park and making chances for others. Moray Stewart was linking well also and many of the first half tries saw many players with their hands on the ball in team tries. Other first half scorers were John Lohar, Bill Criggie, Rory Love grabbed another two to make it a first half hatrick, Stuart Pollock and Ali Smeaton both grabbed doubles and Bill Criggie knocked over a host of kicks to make the first half score 66-0.


GHK brought on Gillon Rand at scrum half and were constantly rotating their pack to try different combinations and give some players a breather. GHK continued where they left off with some good interplay between backs and forwards and scoring another 56 points in the second half.


Try scorers included Rory Love completing his 5 try haul, Andy McTavish gaining a double, JP Higgins after some individual play by Pollock, James Small finishing some good work by Smeaton and Hunter, Lohar completing his double and Gillon Rand scoring from a characteristic snipe from the base of a scrum. Bill Criggie once again kicked excellently hardly missing a kick at goal all day.


It was not all one-way traffic for GHK as Hillhead got a well deserved score after kicking a penalty to touch and scoring a pushover try which was brilliantly converted from the touch line.


The GHK coaches were very pleased with the score line, although they feel it could have been more. This huge tally places GHK with a better points difference than closest rivals Marr who have played one extra game. The Marr vs Cumbernauld game was cancelled due to the referee failing to turn up due to car trouble. This leaves GHK 1point behind Marr but with GHK having a game in hand.


This Saturday sees GHK make the long trip to Oban in what is sure to be very tough fixture. Last season fixture at Oban saw GHK take Oban’s home record that they had held for 4years. The Old Anniesland men will be hoping to come away with the points once again. The bus is leaving Anniesland at 9.30, support welcomed!


GHK team: Hunter, Love, Smeaton, Small, McTavish, Criggie, McFarlane, Forbes, Stewart, Welsh, Ferguson, Broadbent, Higgins, McLemon, Pollock, Rand, Cram, Lohar

GHK Man of the Match : John Lohar

This article was posted on 31-Jan-2006, 12:44 by Hugh Barrow.