GHK 34 Crieff & Strathearn 29

What a cracking start to National Cup Finals Day. Two teams, committed to playing positive and expansive rugby, went nip and tuck over the course of 80 enthralling minutes.

It seemed that the men from Caledonia League Division 1 were poised to lift the silverware on their first outing on the Murrayfield big stage. Yet an inspired cameo appearance from none other than veteran, evergreen stalwart Cammy Little, was enough to overturn a 14 point deficit and enable GHK to add the Plate to their 1997 Shield triumph.

Man of the match Little has played for the likes of Scotland 7s, the Barbarians and the Glasgow pro-team in his illustrious career. But the opportunity to play “with his pals” had even encouraged him to train over the last few weeks!

Typically modest, Little played down his own role. “All the reports we’d got suggested Crieff had a big physical pack but our forwards lifted themselves to that today and the whole team played with such urgency,” he explained.

Both teams made an entertaining start to the game.

GHK claimed the first points with stand-off Jaimie Millan landing a fourth minute penalty.

Crieff’s response was stunning. Stand-off Dave Lyle, who had already made one searing break, repeated his heroics, this time off lineout ball, to touch down under the posts. Flanker Duncan Clow converted.

The points blitz continued as from good continuity, GHK winger Andrew McTavish found himself in midfield. His right to left pass released his centre Daniel Hoffman who had enough pace to claim the city team’s first try. Millan goaled and GHK led 10-7.

McTavish all but added try number two after he had been set free by his half-backs off loose possession but a try-saving tackle at the flag by Lyle denied him.

Crieff again regrouped and when GHK were caught offside Clow levelled with a 25th minute penalty.

The ebb and flow showed no let-up and with their forwards driving purposefully – given a stirring lead by loose head prop Al Forbes – GHK attacked off a close range lineout and a fine change of pace by Stuart Hunter, who trusted his speed saw him take the outside route for the try. Millan missed the conversion.

Crieff lock Nial Ramsay was yellow carded for a late tackle but that didn’t impinge on their attitude. From a turnover ball they transferred swiftly right to left and Adam Lambert released his winger Adam Murdoch who also opted to take his man on the outside and that proved a shrewd call given that GHK’s last defender was flanker Colin Donald. Murdoch’s try was unconverted and the scores were all square again.

As the interval neared Forbes also took a trip to the sin-bin for dangerous use of the boot but it certainly wasn’t a tousy affair as both teams sought to attack at every opportunity.

Half-time GHK 15 Crieff & Strathearn 15

From another terrific break by Crieff’s Lyle, centre Lambert burst through for try number three within six minutes of the restart. Clow converted and though he failed with a penalty, Crieff were dominating.

The safety score, or so we thought at the time, that the Perthshire men yearned, materialised in the 68th minute. A kick-ahead from Stuart Guntley was shepherded to touch five metres out by GHK. Crieff caught and drove and from the resultant mass of bodies Clow emerged beaming with the credit for the touch-down. The flanker embellished matters with a fine conversion from close to the right touchline for a 29-15 lead.

Little, the 38-year-old former Glasgow professional and noted sevens exponent, joined the fray for the last 25 minutes and inevitably what a difference he made.

Probing around the fringes he found gaps and twice bulleted through for tries. Millan converted both and all of a sudden this roller-coaster final was level once more.

Crieff could point to the sin-binning of their replacement prop Sean Horan during this period as a reason for what was unfolding but there was such energy from GHK that it proved irresistible.

Sure enough as the game entered injury time, GHK were awarded a penalty close to the Crieff 22. Would they go for goal? Not with Little on the scene. He tapped, his forwards, with Forbes again first to surge, supported and when ball was fed right Mark Oatey burst through for the winning try.

GHK
Stuart Hunter; John Shannon, Daniel Hoffman, Dave Whyte, Andrew McTavish; Jaimie Millan, Gillon Rand (captain); Al Forbes, John Lohoar, Ryan Welsh, Michael Gribben, Nick Cram, Colin Donald, Jamie Mackinnnon, Peter Broadbent. Subs: Chris Ratcliffe, Andrew Jerdan, Euan Thow, Mark Oatey, Cammy Little, Bill Criggie, Rory Love.

Crieff & Strathearn
Craig Wishart; Stuart Guntley, Adam Lambert, Jamie Coffey, Adam Murdoch; Dave Lyle Kenny Butler; Ross Coventry, Alan Webster, Craig Gordon, Nial Ramsay, Jamie Alsop, Duncan Clow, Jason Hill, Cameron Kennedy captain Subs: Pierre Leger, Peter Cook, Sean Horan, Mark Dow, Scott Adams, Lawrence Howell, Duncan Rutherford

Referee: Andrew McMenemy (Gala)

This article was posted on 5-May-2007, 21:57 by Hugh Barrow.