Lenzie 12-15 GHK

GHK snatched a dramatic if not lucky victory against Lenzie on Saturday after being behind for the entire match but winning the game with the last play of the game.

With 8forwards out of action due to injury and unavailability, GHK strength in depth was tested and the pack that took the field were excellent in the set piece and combative in the loose. Gavin Callander made a guest appearance at no8 replacing Colin Donald who was on a stag weekend. In the backs, Cammy Little returned at scrumhalf with both Gillon Rand and Chas McFarlane unavailable.

The game started with Lenzie putting GHK under pressure with some good attacking rugby but GHK defence was holding firm with Pete Broadbent and Callander putting in some massive hits. The bigger Lenzie pack started to maul quite efficiently and after breaking away from a maul, the resulting ruck gave a chance for their no8 to go over near the posts for a converted try. GHK were struggling to put their patterns into play and the constant toot of the referees whistle had both teams frustrated at the stop start nature of the game.

Stuart Pollock came off the bench after missing the whole of preseason whilst travelling around Europe and his performance at stealing opposition lineout ball brought GHK back into the game. Chuck McElroy scored what seem to be a good try on the right wing but the touch judge deemed the speedy winger to have put a foot in touch. Lenzie got another score after a missed tackle on the left put the home side 12-0 up at the half.

A stern half time talking to from Coach David Ross seemed to rally the side and a much improved second half performance saw 3tries from 3wingers. The first of which was from a blindside move involving Pollock and Little to put Rory Love in the right hand corner. The flying winger was causing Lenzie all sorts of problems and was involved in a lot of good attacks from the visitors.

Chuck McElroy was next on the score sheet after a good break from Olly Jones in midfield who then fed McElroy coming at pace on the left winger to dive over right in the corner for a five pointer. Lenzie then started coming back into the game with some good deep kicks into the corner but the GHK defence was outstanding with Callander leading the way and with Jones putting in some hits in the backs. The game looked like being just out of GHK’s reach but with a lineout 5m from their own line with the last play of the game, GHK won it with an outstanding try.

Pollock won the ball at the lineout and GHK ran it with Aubery Horton feeding Jones who fired a miss pass to Love who skinned his man on the outside. He sped up to the half way line and stepped inside the fullback who half caught him but he offloaded to Pete Broadbent who linked again with Jones who passed to Scott Eadie on the wing who galloped in for the winning score on the left side. The never say die attitude pleased the coaches immensely but the overall performance was not all good and will be worked upon midweek at training.

GHK will get the chance to rectify their mistakes on Tuesday with a training game organised vs Hawks 2nd XV at Old Anniesland, Kick off 7pm.

GHK Team: Criggie, McElroy, Whyte, Jones, McTavish, Horton, Little, Wong, Mitchell, Welsh, Gribben, Cram, Mclemon, Broadbent, Callander, Pollock, Stewart, Stewart, Love, Eadie,
GHK Man of Match: Gavin Callander

This article was posted on 21-Aug-2006, 14:07 by Hugh Barrow.