A regular programme feature that keeps you up to date with rugby and club issues and news by Kenny Hamilton.
(These may be the views of Glasgow Hawks)

Currie
Today’s visitors are everybody’s favourite to inherit the title from Hawks. They are unbeaten in the league to date. A big powerful pack allied to astute tactics and an ability to finish are their strengths. They are, so far, coping with the pressure of being favourites and realise that every other team will hope to inflict a first defeat – a familiar pressure to Hawks in the past 3 seasons.

The Business of Rugby
At the Finance AGM in August and again on Monday evening it was made clear by senior figures that the SRU cannot trade their way out of the current overdraft position of £23m. They may be able to gradually reduce it but without moving a significant asset (i.e. the back pitches or the stadium) they will never bring about a balanced position. The existing administration has, of course, inherited this position from their predecessors and has been able to stop further decline and mounting debt.
The Edinburgh pro-team deal has helped and hopefully, a similar arrangement for Glasgow will follow. The signs from the Edinburgh experience seem promising – bigger crowds, effective marketing and strengthening links with the clubs. As for the Borders side – who knows? There is an assertion that 3 pro sides are needed to provide the base for the national team – but I have seen no evidence to this effect. It was that argument from Ian McGeechan that won over the AGM about 5 years ago and led to the creation of the team and the increasing debt of the Governing body for our sport. I have raised before the option of 2 well-resourced professional teams with a back-up from a high quality Premier league (8 or 10 teams) as an alternative base to build from.
We now have 10 years of experience of pro rugby in Scotland and a number of other countries against which we can benchmark our performance. It is time to draw some conclusions around all of this and reappraise the current failing strategy.

Our Guests (1) – Hyndland Primary School
Last season the loudest support we had came from the visit of Hyndland Primary – and the good news is that they are back! 45 enthusiastic young people will be entertained by Ronnie Gourley and mini-rugby coaches before watching the Primat 6 GHK v Accies mini-rugby demonstration game and the Hawks’ match. (Ronnie? Entertaining?)

Our Gusts (2) – Kelvinside Academy
We also welcome 25 pupils from Kelvinside Academy who are accompanied by Ian Leighton – teacher at the school and former Hawks’ captain.

Our Gusts (3) – The Accies from the 1980s
We should be joined by a group of ‘well-lunched’ Accies at around 3.30 this afternoon. Well done to Lindsay Crawford and I think Ian Jarvie for organising and a warm welcome to you all. Hope you enjoy your afternoon and that we can count on your future support.

Last Week
The score line looked and was painful as we went down 51 points to 21 away at Boroughmuir last week. There were a number of positives for all to see including an improved line-out and other areas of forward performance. But the inescapable defensive frailty was there for all to see. Coaches and players have discussed this – and what has been a traditional strength of Hawks in knocking teams back will be quickly restored.

Joker Jackpot
Watch out for raffle ticket sellers (£2 I think). You have a double chance to win. The usual prize of a bottle of something – but also a chance to turn over a card on our prize board and if it is a Joker you win the Jackpot. This will be at least £150 and up to £250 this week. If there is no winner the Jackpot will be enormous at our next home match against Melrose. Draw will be in the main stand around 5.45pm.

This article was posted on 5-Oct-2006, 13:07 by Hugh Barrow.