TGP has rambled on this week.


Glasgow Hawks 47 : Stirling County 8

Though it might just as easily have been Hawks - 'lots' v Stirling County,
'enough to avoid humiliation', as though anyone cared.

It was the last game of the season. Hawks were already champions, as
decided in a tense encounter at Boroughmuir 3 weeks earlier: Stirling
County are returning to Premiership 2 for next season. No reason then for
anyone to pull out a blinder.

There are 4 teams for the drop this season with 2 to come up. At the moment
it's certain that Biggar and Sirling are for the drop while a very
deserving Dundee will be taking the rise. It's also possible that Cartha
will be the second team rising. It also looks like 1, or possibly 2 teams
from the Edinburgh area will also drop. In this I see some slight
encouragement that quality rugby is, perhaps, slowly starting to spread
away from Edinburgh and the Borders.

As far as TGP is concerned the Hawks are at the top of the table and now
have to defend against the chance of 'four in a row'.

Hawks, as always, played a full team with even the new pro, Colin Shaw,
making a welcome return from Glasgow Warriors. He certainly looked, to me
at any rate, as though he was packing a bit more beef. MYF took a long
time in the appraisal also. A half smile about the lips told its own story.

So what can we say about the game?

Well, not a lot really. It was a glorious day to start, first time this
year for the roof to be removed from the Phantom-mobile. A wonderful
opportunity to become re-acquainted with MYF's preferred choice of music
. So that was alright then.

The car-park was, unsurprisingly, quiet.

The pitch was hard and dry, knee deep in sand in places, perhaps for the
visit of what seemed like a multitude from the local primary school, being
introduced to the Hawks. The children played their part wonderfully well
with a rousing, though shrill (audible to dogs and bats), cheer when the
Hawks took to the field, and a slightly more muted effort for the visitors.

To be honest I thought the first ten minutes of the game were the rugby
equivalent of a 'knock-up' as in tennis - like when Tim Henman competes
with the best before the game proper starts. Then the game gradually
became more purposeful.

There's not a lot I'd want to say about the game. Despite looking
lacklustre, Hawks ran in 6 goals and a try. One of them was an interception
for Murray Strang that left him to lope the length of the field,
accompanied by only the referee and the TJs. It was nice to see Mark Sitch
get a try in his last Premiership game for the Hawks. It was almost a
fairy tale ending as well as he looked to score on the final moment of the
match. Not to be however.

Stirling County provided some exciting handling, in very brief starts, which
probably irritated coach Wilson who no doubt wants to see the same from his
own charges. The breaks were, for the most part, snuffed by the efficient
Hawks defence.

I shall be interested to see how the Hawks game-plan develops next year as
this afternoon was probably a swan song for a number of long serving
players. There are, however, some solid, capable players in the team who
will continue to provide bed-rock. There are also breakers who can be
relied upon, from time to time, to do the unexpected. What seems to have
been missing, to me, from time to time during the season is a sort of on
field nous combined with a few players who might be better in a different
position. We need to play rugby in the opposition half, not our own.

There's no question in my mind that Mike Adamson is a star player, essential
for his place kicking, exciting for his occasional, speedy breaks, fearless
in his defence but under-sized for a full-back. A natural wing if I ever
saw one. We have a surfeit of solidity and ability available to us so why
not one of the bigger, and currently hard to resist, centres that we are so
blessed with?

I'm intrigued to know what cover we have at fly-half.

In my opinion Murray Strang has developed well as his confidence has grown.
He started as 'you pussy' with MYF and has now become a favourite. He can
break, pass and kick and his decision making is pretty good. To be honest I
think his kicking could do with some work because there are clearly times
when only a horse-drawn howitzer has the same boom while at others... well,
it may be a confidence thing.

I don't know if Kenny Sinclair is planning a return at SH next season at all
and to be honest, for me, Iain Monaghan has been the player of the season
since his return from injury anyway. He has a reliable, powerful pass off
either side and he must be a royal pia to opposing scrummies. When he is
replaced he is well covered by Ritchie McKnight - except the forwards don't
seem to respond so well.

The forwards have toiled admmirably, again, but it must be said that the
lineout has been a struggle this season. It may be me but the breakdown
has been a bit less reliable in the security of our own ball too. We missed
you Stevie Swindall

There's no question that we are going to miss the reliability and work-rate
of Mark Sitch next season. The man who has received more whisky in
Man-of-the-Match awards than most committee men get through in a week. On
the plus side it leaves more MOM awards for the rest of the team and it
means that someone else may sometimes catch MYF's eye.

Enough maundering, the afternoon drew to a close with Andy Irvine's
presentation of the cup, to a happy cheer from friends, family and
dedicated supporters who had turned out for this last game. Nice to see the
children join the Hawks for a celebratory picture at the end. I
particularly enjoyed Iain Monaghan's stirring cheerleading which found
favour with them. If rugby is to develop as we would all hope then
encouraging activities like this is part of the way.

So that's it for another season. The merry go round continues with the
sevens for a while but this year there's no consolation with the Lions.
Come to think of it there was no bloody consolation last year either.
Clive Woodward my a*s!

Next season will beckon soon enough and a season I didn't expect to see
might yet provide four in a row, with new faces and a fresh plan - but the
same old phantom-mobile and MYF.

Roll on autumn.

regards

The Green Phantom

This article was originally posted on 2-Apr-2006, 17:52 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 2-Apr-2006, 17:53.