Linwood 0-36 GHK



The first round of the new Scottish Cup format saw GHK travel along the M8 to play lower league Linwood on a cold and wet October afternoon.

GHK saw this as an opportunity to blood some youngsters to first team action so Andrew Gunning, Ewan McCoombe and Fraser Milne all came into the forwards to test themselves against what was sure to be a big Linwood pack.



The game was played on a heavy pitch with the wind and rain battering the players thus it was no surprise that the game was not a spectacle of the usual running rugby. Accompanied with the fact that their was only one ball on hand at the game and every time it was kicked out of the pitch it took over 30seconds to retrieve and the stop start nature of the referee, the game was not one for those on the sidelines (or the players one suspects).



GHK got on the scoreboard early after a turnover at a Linwood lineout by Mike Gribben was moved wide by Jaimie Millan and Danny Hoffman to Cammy Little to speed over for the try, Millan converted. A couple of minutes later, a lineout again was stolen and moved wide quickly and John Shannon appeared off his wing to create the extra man and put Andy McTavish in for another converted try. Little then bagged his brace when the ball was moved wide by Millan and Hoffman and Little showed a real turn of pace to go over at the posts, again converted by Millan.



Halftime came and no more scoring but Linwood were enjoying their game and were happy to keep the score so low. GHK had to up the work rate in the second half and almost immediately a great piece of forward play involving carries and offloads from Ali Forbes, John Lohar and Mike Gribben, who carried ball superbly all day, popped the ball to Forbes who had continued his support to speed over on the left for the try.



Forbes again carried the ball to the Linwood defence and offloaded well to Moray Stewart who found Andrew Gunning on his shoulder to score with his first touch after coming off the bench. The final score came after yet another carry by Gribben with Forbes and Ewan McDonald supporting who linked with Danny Hoffman to dot down for the 5points.



Linwood were coming into it with help from the referee but the for the GHK players, the game was won and all they wanted to do was get out of the rain. The game was thankfully stopped but Linwood showed guts and spirit and should be applauded for their performance.



GHK go into the next round of the cup with the draw taking place at Murrayfield on Tuesday, game to be played on the 28th October. This Saturday sees 1st play 2nd as GHK travel to Coatbridge to face Waysiders who shattered GHK title plans 2seasons ago after scoring a try to draw the game with the last play of the match which meant that GHK finished 2nd instead of first. Revenge is on the cards for the Old Anniesland men and with being such an important game, the club would love as much support as possible. Kick off is 3pm at Waysiders



GHK Team: Little, Shannon, Whyte, Hoffman, McTavish, Millan, Rand, Forbes, Lohar, McDonald, Gribben, McCoombe, Higgins, Clarke, Stewart, McAra, Gunning, Milne

Man of the Match: Mike Gribben

This article was posted on 9-Oct-2006, 09:18 by Hugh Barrow.