Glasgow Hawks 28 - 5 Dundee HSFP
HARRY McARTHUR at New Anniesland September 25 2006
Hawks "lost" the second half by five points to three, but their coach, David Wilson, admitted that just winning the match was important.
"After our disappointing results recently we just wanted to make sure of the points. We perhaps took our foot off the gas in the second half and that is a bit disappointing. After a good first period when we were lively, industrious and positive, it would have been good to go on and get the bonus try, but to score 25 points against a settled and well-drilled side like Dundee was bonus enough for us. Not many teams will do that this season."
He went on: "We were a bit sloppy in the second half and should have scored more. Obviously we will have to start playing for a full 80 minutes and not ease off after a good spell. However, I am pleased that our team are starting to gel. We lost around seven or eight experienced players from last season's line-up and it will take time for everyone to get to know one another."
Hawks got off to a great start with a penalty in three minutes then amassed 13 points in as many minutes. That took the wind out of the Dundee sails and they were on the back foot for most of the opening 40 minutes. The 10-minute sin-binning of Chris Cumming did nothing for their cause and they conceded another try by the 28th minute. Hawks inspirational full back Mike Adamson kept the home side on top and the third try followed when prop Nick Cox was involved in a pick and drive and flopped over the line for Adamson to convert and push his tally to 10 points.
Hawks' lethargy after the break was punished early on when hooker Dougie McLaren cashed in on a clever lineout ploy to score at the left- hand corner. That was the beginning of a virtual dominance by the visitors. There was hardly a failure in their team from then on as, inspired by the relentless work of flanker George Oommen (ironically, a former Hawks player), they won numerous lineouts and put together some clever handling plays.
The fact that they did not add to their score was down to some stupendous defensive work by Hawks. Perhaps if some of that endeavour and concentration could be transmitted to their attacking play, their second-half hiatus may not recur. Conversely, Dundee have the opposite problem. They give away too much possession in the first period of a game and give themselves too much to do after the turn round.
Coach Ian Rankin was anything but downhearted, and said: "It was a heartbreak to concede the interception score in the first few minutes but we got stuck in after that only to give away too much ball. I am pleased, however, with the performance."
As well as lauding the display of George Oommen, coach Rankin was also quick to give credit to replacement Danny Levison.

This article was originally posted on 25-Sep-2006, 07:01 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-Sep-2006, 07:08.