CURRIE 51 GLAS HAWKS 26

CHAMPIONS Currie awoke from their slumbers to thrash previous title holders Hawks in a Malleny Park epic. Hawks had opened up a 14-0 lead thanks to tries by debut boys Ruaridh Jackson and Sean Murray - the former converting both.

But then Currie's pack seized control with devastating effect. They hit back with touchdowns from Geoff Caldwell, Jim Taggart, Andy Reekie, Scott Burnett, Andy Adam and a Mike Fitzgerald double

Hawks countered with a penalty try awarded when Stuart Smith was the victim of a high tackle and a late effort by Greg Francis which at least salvaged a consolation bonus point.


SUNDAY HWRALD REPORTS
Nine-try demolition squad
Currie 51 / Glasgow Hawks 26
Lewis Stuart at Malleny Park
Comment
RUTHLESS CURRIE gave their new championship drive a perfect start with a nine-try demolition of Glasgow Hawks, one of the teams that most people believe will be one of their main threats to the season. The big challenge now, observed Ally Donaldson, the winning coach, will be to contain this being turned into a ridiculous level of expectation outside the club.

"I'm not worried about my boys, they are a pretty down to earth bunch, the difficult bit will be elsewhere where people can get overexcited about one result," he said.

If they do, it is easy to understand why, especially if they actually saw any of this performance, one of the best all-round games Currie have produced in years with dynamic forward play, brutal tackling and straight-running backs taking full advantage in the final quarter.

advertisementThe only tinge of doubt came just as the match was heading into its final quarter and Hawks' centre Stu Smith, was scythed down by a nose-high tackle from Andy MacMahon, his opposite number.

It was enough for referee John Steele to award a penalty try that brought the visitors within a point of Currie. Crucially he did not sin bin MacMahon, and with a full complement of players, Currie swept in two quick tries to take a firm grip on the match before running riot in the final minutes.

What nobody can ever know is if Hawks might have had the strength to take advantage if Currie had gone down to 14 men.

To be fair, the evidence is not persuasive, by then they had spent the better part of an hour coming second in every collision, every breakdown and every point of contact. A man advantage might have slowed the flood of tries, but probably would not have stopped it.

As it was, it was testament to the Hawks' resilience that they did manage to squeeze over for their bonus point fourth try with the last move of the game. Gavin Mories the replacement prop got the touchdown, but in reality it was more a case of their battered and broken ship limping over the finishing line than a magnificent fightback.

What was truly impressive about the Currie performance was that they gifted their opponents two early scores.

Rhuaridh Jackson, the Hawks fly-half, intercepted on the ten-yard line and ran in the first; Rory Kerr, the former international, made the telling contribution after another stupid turnover to send wing Sean Murray over.

That, at last, woke the sleeping Currie forwards and what had been an even battle up front turned decisively the Currie way.

Suddenly the hits were driving Hawks yards backwards, the mauls were moving towards the Hawks' line and with the pack carving out gaps, there was space for the backs to run.

Geoff Caldwell, the wing, started the recovery after powerful running in midfield, and then created the space for full-back Andy Muir to grab the second.

Currie finally took the lead when flanker James Taggart finished MacMahon's burst.

Andy Reekie, the prop, was mauled over the line to extend the lead, but Currie were having trouble with their conversions, and after the penalty try were only 22-21 ahead.

That, however, was the last anybody saw of Hawks until the closing seconds with Scott Burnett and Muir both sliding under the posts over for converted tries before Andy Adam with one and Michael Fitzgerald, with two, completed the final quarter rout.

"I thought we looked sharper and more composed. Hawks will be there or there abouts at the end of the season," said Donaldson.

"For us it was a great start but a lot of other clubs were having great starts as well, so it is only a good start nothing more. We will have to keep our feet on the ground and not get carried away."

Donaldson added that he is about to recruit a utility back who will solve the goalkicking problems. "There are a lot of young boys in there, so it looks good for the future."

Currie: A Muir; G Caldwell, A MacMahon, A Easson, K McShane; A Binikos, R Snedden; J Cox, S Burnett, L Lappin, A Adam, S Burton, J Taggart, R Weston. Replacements used: A Reekie, M Fitzgerald, M Cairns, A Johnston, A Hutt.

Glasgow Hawks: R Kerr; S Dunk, S Smith, G Macdonald, S Murray; R Jackson, K Sinclair; G Strain, J Maclay, G Macfadyen, A Dale, R Gray, M Sitch, J Fitzpatrick, G Strang. Replacements used: D Malcolm, G Mories, G Francis, S Low, I Noble.

Referee: J Steele (Dumfries).

This article was originally posted on 2-Sep-2007, 07:06 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 2-Sep-2007, 07:12.