Ayr
We have another opportunity to welcome the seaside men back to Anniesland. Their last visit was a rollercoaster ride in front of a large crowd – with a passionate attempt to keep the Championship race alive until the last week. Hawks triumphed however and the rest, as they say, is history. Ayr finished a highly creditable second in the national championship.

Ayr’s coach, the talented Craig Redpath, will be looking towards next season having taken a surprise exit from the Scottish Cup, and will want players to demonstrate their value today.

Scottish Cup
With postponement of just one match it seems that we may be jamming the last few rounds of the cup into successive weeks. It seems that there is now a prospect of the ¼, semi and final (5th May) coming one week after the other. Despite the demands of the schedule, let us hope we are involved.

Scotland
I was definitely at Murrayfield last Saturday. But I seemed to be a different match from a number of pundits and commentators who talked about a “scrappy,” “dreary” or “lack-lustre” performance. I thought it was one of the most complete performances from a set of Scottish forwards in a long time. Outstanding line-out work, great scrum and pressure all over the field which prevented the Welsh from getting any momentum. Ewan Murray was a giant in the scrum and looks to be the rock we have been looking for ever since Iain (the Bear) Milne hung up his boots.

Slightly better weather and I am sure that a try or two would have resulted. But Chris Paterson added to his near 90% kicking record as Scottish pressure forced the Welsh to become desperate in defence. Well done Frank and the Scottish team.

Against Italy next week we will need to be just as effective, or more so, up front.


Upcoming Events

Dates for your diary:

Friday 9th March – David Gilmore Memorial match at Old Anniesland. Kick-off 6.45pm

Friday 18th May – Hawks v Royal Navy (7.15pm to be confirmed)

Friday 25th May – Hawks Dinner Dance (sold out last year – get in quick!)

Mark Sitch
Whisper it – Hawks Legend, Mark Sitch and his wife Claire have returned to this country and shunned the Brisbane sunshine which we always knew was over-rated. Welcome back! Unfortunately, under current rules Mark cannot play 1st team rugby for the balance of this season. Next season?


Reminder of Law Experiment

The Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) being trialled are:

1. Corner Flag moved out from T/L in line with all other flags.

2. Ball if passed back into own 22 is then kicked directly to touch. Lineout will take place opposite the place where the ball was kicked. If however another activity has taken place (ruck/maul/breakdown) within the 22 and the ball then kicked to touch, lineout will take place where ball crosses touch line.

3. Quick throw – as long as it goes back – no problem.

4. Teams no longer need to match up numbers at a formed lineout.

5. At scrum, both back lines must be 5m behind appropriate hind-most foot of scrummage

6. Penalties will be awarded for OFFSIDE and FOUL PLAY. Note tackle now becomes offside line.

7. Defending team allowed to bring down the maul

8. Players allowed to contest the ball on the ground and may use hands in this dispute for possession. Players must enter the breakdown at "the gate". Any player not involved in the breakdown must be behind the hind-most foot. If the ball becomes unplayable, possession will be awarded to the team not taking the ball into contact. The game is restarted either by a tap free kick or a scrum option.

At the breakdown the decisions by the referee have been reduced to:

Ensuring players enter by "the gate"
Penalise players who enter in an offside manner
Any player who commits foul play
Ball becoming unplayable

This article was posted on 14-Feb-2007, 15:10 by Hugh Barrow.