Hawk 2nd XV versus Stirling County 1/4/06 Won 24-22



Close but no cigar! On the day a tremendous performance by a squad of players who gave everything, remember this was a Stirling team who took 32 points off us in the away game and nilled us to boot. To turn it round in the way the players did shows how much this team has come on this season and how much mental toughness they have developed, we turned round in this game 5-19 down at half time as well!


On the day it just wasn’t enough but in reality the league was lost in the first 3 games of the season when we lost games we should have won – Heriots and Jedforest – and gave away points that were to prove costly in the long run. Games away from home on a good fast pitch were actually an advantage to our style of play and in honesty our best performances were away with the away game against Heriots a highlight of the season although again conceding 2 tries late on was to tell on us later. Of course Heriots played a part again when they turned out what must have been a shadow XV against Stirling in the 2nd last game. First place versus third and the biggest points difference in a game throughout the whole league campaign.



Anyway as the players know I like to produce some statistics so here are the final ones for the season.

P W D L Pts For Pts Ag
League 18 13 0 5 422 256
Friendly 2 2 0 0 53 10



Tries 65 inc 1pen
Conversions 35
Penalties 14
Drop Goals 2



TRY SCORERS
Danny Hoffman 9
Stuart Low 8
Mark Oatey 4
Jonno Single 4
Simon Tourde 4



POINTS SCORERS
Kenny Baillie 55 (3T, 19C, 4P)
Mike Rainey 46 (1T, 10C, 6P, 1DG)
Andy McPhail 35 (3T, 4C, 3P, 1DG)






58 players were used in total, with 15 playing only once and 16 playing more than 10 games.

TOP APPEARANCES
Mark Oatey, Davy Stewart 18
Niall Cadell, Murray Wiseman 17
Danny Hoffman, Ali Mustoe, Willie Wong 16
Sean Murray, Rob Holdsworth, Jonno Single 14



To finish off then I would like to thank some people without whom this team could not function. Big John Gillies makes my job easy in so many ways and considering the average age of the team -obviously excluding KB!- could be looked on as a father figure for most of the players. The physios – Greg, Heather, Linda, Emma – who have all looked after the well being of the players and got some of them fit for games when they had no right to. I have to say that I have been really impressed with the attitude of the ‘1st XV’ players who have found themselves in the 2’s who all gave 100% when playing with younger less experienced players. I don’t really like singling out individual players but Stuart Low’s infectious enthusiasm in particular was ‘refreshing’! Thanks also to GHK players who stepped up to the mark when asked, particularly the 3 guys who were in the squad for that last important game.


Lastly but by no means least, Kenny Baillie. As a player he has played right throughout the backs- with the exception of 9- and has never given less than 100%. As a captain he has kept everything in perspective, letting players know that they should play with a smile on their faces while giving their all. As a person he is a good guy to have in your team, from bringing karaoke DVD’s on the bus to encourage young guys to sing, to upsetting Heriots by singing ‘We Wish You A Merry Xmas’ as they went off the pitch!


Finally ALL the players. A young squad – most of the guys who have played more than 10 games are about the 20 mark – who have shown great commitment throughout the season and who have grown up in many ways. If we can keep most of the players for next season it bodes well for the 1sts and should get the 2’s off to a better start.

Farewells to Ali Mustoe (off to sea for 6 months), Simon Tourde (maybe!), Mike (GO HAWKS!) Marlow and Jonno Single (away to play 10 in NZ!).


Thanx to you all, see you next season hopefully (will send a text nice and early some morning!)

This article was originally posted on 4-Apr-2006, 09:04 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 4-Apr-2006, 09:06.