Glasgow Hawks 28 Boroughmuir 32

The Scottish Hydro-Electric Super Cup could have afforded spectators at Old Anniesland this afternoon a glimpse into rugby’s crystal ball.

The new competition involving Scotland’s Premier Division 1 sides is trialing all the IRB’s Experimental Law Variations and on today’s evidence, where Boroughmuir were quicker into their stride and deserved victory, the desire for a simpler game to play and understand where the emphasis is on the positive won quite a few advocates.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden was among an animated crowd in Glasgow’s West End, though in truth that maybe had more to do with the visiting Ulster supporters taking in this clash before Magners League business at Hughenden, than passionate outpouring at the laws experiment.

Still, Hadden liked what he saw, not least because as he noted: “The players really enjoy playing under the experiments.”

Hawks’ experienced scrum-half, Kenny Sinclair, echoed that view. “One of the key things for me is the emphasis the variations place on the contact area and I think it will encourage guys to think that bit more carefully as they go into contact.

“It’s certainly going to ask questions about fitness levels too over the next few weeks because the game was quick with the ball in play for longer,” he said.

Now Hawks and Boroughmuir are inclined to approach games in a cavalier vein in any event so it’s a moot point whether the ELVs were at the heart of today’s eight try encounter or, whether they served to enhance the teams’ natural instincts.

Referee Rob Dickson said: “I think we were lucky that we had two teams like Hawks and Boroughmuir who always look to play good rugby. There was certainly less work for the referee at the tackle area for which there’ll be no complaints from me and, on the basis of this one game, I think the experiments will encourage teams to be more dynamic on arrival at the tackle area.”

Bill Nolan, chairman of the IRB Laws Project Group that is piloting the variations, was also among spectators. He observed that neither side showed much inclination to maul (the variations allow for the maul to be collapsed legally) and shared your reporter’s feeling that it would be interesting to see what a team with a more powerful pack and a penchant for mauling, for example, Currie, would look to do here.

The visitors’ points came from tries by wing Rory Couper (2); and props Freddie Lait and Cameron Ward. Stand-off Scott Hadden converted two and also goaled two penalties, with centre Elgan O’Donnell adding one other conversion.

Hawks’ tries were notched by the livewire stand-off Mike Adamson, flanker John Fitzpatrick, wing Max Evans and No 8 Greg Francis, with Adamson converting three and Murray Strang one.

This article was posted on 7-Jan-2007, 01:26 by Hugh Barrow.