Strathendrick 3-24 GHK


Ruth Mezies field hosted the latest instalment of national 5 league rugby between Strathendrick and GHK on Saturday with both teams keen to pick up points in the run in to the season. With a close rivalry between the two teams, the game promised to be full of heart and passion and the game did not disappoint. Unfortunately there were not many people to watch this great game of contrasting styles due to the strange decision by the home club to play the game at 3pm and miss not only Scotland’s 6nations game but the France-Wales clash also.


From the kick off an example of Strathendrick’s tactics were evident when captain Mark Gibson took out 2nd row Murray Stewart in the air, an act that some thought was Gibson’s way of getting to watch the 6nations but the referee decided to leave him on the pitch but if the incident had been at any point in the game, Gibson surely would have been watching Scotland winning against Italy.

Strathendrick had all the ball in opening exchanges and pressurized GHK in the 22 but the GHK defence held firm but an infringement at a ruck allowed fly half Bruce Duncan to clip over a penalty goal to put Endrick in the lead. Minutes later, he missed an identical effort and GHK were lucky not to fall further behind.


Endricks 10 man strategy was keeping GHK pegged back and some accurate kicking by Duncan into the corners restricted GHK into playing the whole of the opening 30minutes in their own half. GHK were realising that they would have to start playing their usual brand of 15man rugby and the instant they put some phases of play together they scored. A kick deep into the 22 by Duncan was counter by Rory Love who linked with Ali Smeaton who put Stuart Pollock through a hole and as the number 8 lined up the fullback, Love appeared on his outside shoulder to take a nice pass and dart his way to the try line for a score converted by Jaimie Millan. The half was over and with Endrick having 90% of the ball but it was GHK who lead 3-7.


If the first half was Endrick’s, then the second was all GHK with a further 3more tries and a tremendous performance by all 15players, especially the front row lead by Ryan Welsh. The GHK men winning not only all there own scrummage ball but practically everyone of the Endrick’s put ins too.


The GHK forwards were exerting dominance else where as well with solid charges from Pollock, Jono Single and Ali Forbes. It was no surprise when after a catch and drive from the 22, GHK pushed over for a try by Colin Donald on the left hand side.

The Old Anniesland men were playing some wonderful stuff with some neat inter passing and offloading in the tackle. It was not long until the next score when after a good break by Ali Smeaton was supported by Stuart Hunter who got tackled just short. The forwards then exerted more dominance by constantly picking and driving and eventually Ali Forbes barged over close to the posts, Millan adding the extras.


Hunter was making a constant threat of himself from lose kicks and counter attacking at every opportunity. JP Higgins was also causing the home defence problems with some nice half breaks and offloads. Gillon Rand was on at scrumhalf and made an immediate impact by dominating his opposite man and it was Rand who snipped from half way and sprinted to the corner in a spectacular individual effort which resulted in the bonus point.


This result leaves GHK 2points adrift of the top of the league with two games to play. Saturday sees the return match with Bishopton where GHK will be hoping for a similar score to last week when they won 72-12. kick off is 3pm


GHK team: Hunter, Love, Smeaton, Higgins, McTavish, Millan, McFarlane, Lohar, Reid, Welsh, Stewart, Ferguson, Single, Broadbent, Pollock, Rand, Pollock, Forbes.

GHK Man of the Match: JP Higgins

This article was posted on 20-Mar-2006, 13:16 by Hugh Barrow.