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Hawks lack zip against doomed GHA, but title is within grasp

IAIN MORRISON
AT ANNIESLAND

GLAS HAWKS 34
GHA 25

ANYTHING can happen in a derby match and pretty much everything did in this one; nine tries, two yellow cards and a lead that changed hands an astonishing nine times. At the end of all this action, Hawks are still on course for their second successive title and GHA are occupying a relegation spot after Watsonians’ win over Melrose.

The kickoff was delayed by ten minutes to allow referee Graeme Hannah to extricate himself from Glasgow’s traffic and then the match was held up for another five minutes when GHA flanker Callum Forrester collided awkwardly with the opposition at the kickoff and had to be stretchered from the field with concussion.

When play finally got underway, a young GHA team showed spirit and skill in spades, but ultimately proved unable to match the power of a home team that seriously under-performed. Winger Wes Henry grabbed a hat trick of tries but there were few Hawks who can claim to have put in a full shift.

The scoring started as early as the tenth minute when Ally MacLay’s looping pass put Henry into the corner and the same man touched down again either side of half time to keep his side in the driving seat.

But GHA proved they were not merely making up numbers as Barry Edgar kicked a penalty and a break from scrumhalf AJ McFarlane sparked a try from winger Rory Watson.

Hawks allowed one kickoff to bounce into touch, gave up a free kick and two plays later Edgar found himself on the end of a huge overlap to dive over in the left hand corner and grab a 15-12 lead for GHA that they took into the half time dressing room to everyone’s surprise.

The free scoring continued in the second half as Alan Bulloch put Edgar over for his second touchdown and Hawks bulldozed their way over from a five-metre lineout with Steve Begley claiming the try.

With Andy Williamson and Ian McKinnon sin binned, GHA kicked another penalty to regain the lead with 13 minutes left to play, but it was more than enough time for Hawks to respond as the home side scored two more tries through Mike Adamson and Peter Dalton to take the points if not the honours

This article was posted on 6-Mar-2005, 08:48 by Hugh Barrow.