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11 February 2006 - Accies 2nd XV 32 - GHK 16
"Some rare and wry observations from the touchline / subs bench...", by
Eamonn Swift. (Caution - these views are solely those of the individual
and do not, necessarily, represent the general views of the Glasgow
Academical Rugby Club or other individuals...!)
Accies welcomed GHK for the first time in many years to New Anniesland -
a friendly match in the midst of league business which restored some
healthy rivalry to two teams both wanting to win!
The pitch - in fine order given the conditions of the preceding days;
the weather - somewhat wet overhead and not best suited to the usual New
Anniesland style of fluid running rugby(!); the number of substitutes
(especially Accies!) - testament to the keenness of many to take part,
including even one or two in their 40s tempted out for a run against the
youngsters from "over the fence"!
These oldies (Tait, McNaught etc.) amused themselves along with the
other subs and the spectators by winding up the even older and hairier
GHK touch-judge with some yet older banter, while his older still Accie
counterpart - step forward 82 y.o. Jimmy Smith! - sensibly ran an
efficient line on the other, quieter side! Helpfully, Jimmy had also
remembered to bring his sense of humour (essential at New Anniesland!)
and was also less inclined to start directing comments at the players -
not the wisest touch-judge strategy if the inevitable responses are not
welcome!
And so to the match! Accies started the stronger team, with good
possession and some driving runs but, despite much early pressure and
creating a few reasonable chances, the vital passes did not connect and
they had to be satisfied with a Stu Wilson penalty for 3-0. From the
resultant kick-off, GHK began to exert more territorial pressure and it
was they who broke through and created a neat opportunity, effectively
utilising their strong running backs to score a well-worked try -
converted for 7-3. Play swung again to the other end of the "curling
pond" for Fraser McIlwraith to storm through the GHK defence and touch
down after good tight forward possession had been retained. Stu's
conversion made it 10-7, only for a well-struck penalty from GHK's
stand-off to level the scores a few minutes later and another shortly
after that to take the score to 10-13. A further penalty in front of
the Accie posts shortly before half time would have taken the visitors
yet further ahead but the kick drifted just wide of the posts. A safe
touch-down would have brought the half-time whistle but the receiving
stand-off elected to attack from behind the Accie posts. Some
magnificent interchanges involving both forwards and backs took the ball
to the other end of the pitch but the GHK scramble defence held firm
again and the move was ended just short of the visitors try-line.
Breath taking, traditional Accie rugby at its best!!
Some half-time motivation from Dave Tait, Stu and Capt. Max Henderson,
began to pay dividends and Accies charged from the blocks to score an
early try to take the lead at 15-13. Steady possession led to another
strong forward drive by the pack down the left side of the pitch which
ended just short of the line, enabling Guy Chatfield to put in the final
effort as he was strongly driven over the last yard for a solid try.
The conversion slipped by for 20-13. Guy later remarked how delighted
he was to have the opportunity to score against GHK again after a gap of
some years, especially in front of the appreciative home support.
Another GHK penalty from their consistent stand-off brought the score
back to 20-16 with about 10 minutes remaining, at which point a flowing
move from the by now flowing Accies created a try for Stu Wilson - some
good passing culminating in a suspiciously marginal forward pass from
Paul White - not picked up by an unsighted referee but accepted (by
most!) in the true spirit of rugby! Mind you, as Paul will testify, it
is difficult to pass to Stu when he moves at such a speed to be a blur -
on this occasion he was so fast that he had actually touched it down
over the line before he had even caught it... The try-scorer again
added the two points - generously given by the GHK touch-judge when
everyone else, kicker included, suspected it had narrowly missed! As
we were all to find out the next day from Cardiff, sometimes you just
have to accept the referee's decision without too many complaints. A
4th try, unconverted, was added moments later to take the score to
32-16.
No-side sounded during a spell of GHK pressure - taking advantage of an
Accie team losing some pattern as the remaining substitutes had taken
the field for the last moments - for a final score of 32-16. In the
end, a good win to boost Accies' confidence ahead of the crucial closing
league games.
The 2nds have had a tough rebuilding season, but - led by young Max -
are not short on enthusiasm and effort, and have a good number of young
players putting in a lot of hard work deserving of support and some good
results - here's hoping the final run-in can see those wins!
News in the clubhouse was that Accies and GHK 1sts both lost their
league games and Hawks failed to secure the win that could have clinched
the championship once more, so attention will turn to the next game for
their hoped-for title celebrations. Another Hawks Premiership win will
be a great achievement and welcomed by all Accies, although naturally
with some feeling of being distant due to their now all-too-rare matches
on Robert's superb New Anniesland surface. (One GHK chap seemed to be
rueing the fact that his 1st XV had not "acquired" some Hawks 2nds for
their important league game, but that I am sure would not be considered
in the spirit of the game!)
On a final note, the number of subs on both sides gave rise to some
positive, friendly and amusing touchline chat in the rain and raised the
hope that perhaps in the future a joint Stags / 3rd XV could be fielded
to give more players a game instead of a "bench-seat". Definitely a
shout for 2006-07 - and we'll book the ever-welcome Jimmy the Pie as our
touch-judge to let others ply their more serious flags elsewhere...!
Man-of-the-match - Fraser McIlwraith
Accies - Dollar Debutant, Adam Haining, Paul White, Digby, Craig Sankie;
Stu Wilson, Max Henderson; Chris Dunn, Johnny Mackie, Brian Keogh, Guy
Chatfield, Mike Henry, Fabi Marchetti, Fraser McIlwraith, Roddy Kelso -
subs Bob McNaught, Colin (Adam's pal!), Dave Tait, Jack Campbell,
Richard ("have England won yet?") Lloyd, Duane, Gus Watson, Ross
Hastings,
The-other-young-chap-whose-name-escapes-me-at-this-precise-moment
This article was posted on 14-Feb-2006, 14:25 by Hugh Barrow.
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