An old Radio Clyde phone in was recalled at the weekend A punter who had berated a team performace was asked by the inventor of the sports line phone in Jimmie Sanderson if he had actually been at the game-the punter replied that he wasnt able to be there because it was his wedding day--to which the bold Sanderson responded by asking--could you not have made the second half
Best wishes Mike from all at Hawks


Hawks 2’s versus Biggar 3/11/07


‘Do not accustom yourself to use big words for little matters’ – Samuel Johnston (the players know why this quote is in!)


Traditionally this is an awkward fixture as players are a bit reluctant to travel to Biggar. Last season Chooks Aganyha travelled down by car as he was required to attend a family function. The intention was that he would play 40 minutes then head off on the return journey. As it was he stayed for 65 minutes to help out!


Would that Chooks was currently available!! Yet again Kenny Hamilton was forced to bring his boots out of retirement and put his body through 80 minutes of rugby – bet there aren’t many chairmen who are doing that on a regular basis! Players returning from 7’s duty and injury included Ricky Munday, Ali Dale, Stu Low and Ruaraidh Jackson, giving the 2’s a strong but unfamiliar line-up. We also welcomed new boy Josh Clements.


Getting to Biggar early to avoid any problems with being moved to the pitch in the town, we found ourselves playing on the small field beside the clubhouse and with plenty of time before kick-off.


With a warm-up which gained in intensity after a light-hearted game of touch under our belts, the side settled into the game quite well, early on. The lineout was functioning reasonably smoothly, with Niall Cadell taking some good ball but the lifters were experiencing some problems lifting Ali Dale at the front. Biggar, with no really tall players in their forwards, were winning their own ball and starting to disrupt the flow of quality ball which our speedy backs wanted. The heavier Biggar pack managed a couple of hefty shoves to mess up Hawks scrum ball, but it was obvious that their 10 was very unwilling to move the ball, being content to either kick haphazardly or put the ball back inside to his forwards.


It was 15 minutes before Hawks got on the scoreboard and it was straight from a training ground move and, crucially, off 1st phase ball, Stu Dunk coming off his own wing to score on the right, Ruaraidh Jackson converting. This did not start a try fest however. Biggar became very effective at slowing down ruck ball and started to take ball on with their heavier pack. On a narrow pitch the combination of these two factors meant that we couldn’t produce the quick ball required to give the outside backs the space they craved. Hawks cause wasn’t helped when Niall Cadell landed awkwardly after a lineout and had to be replaced by Josh Clements. The plan had been to move Niall back to no. 8 at halftime and let Kiddsy resume his usual role at 6 – so much for forward thinking!!


In the last minute of the half Stu Low found space to scamper in for a try which went unconverted.


HALF TIME: Hawks 12 Biggar 0


A need to look after the ball was emphasised at half time and it appeared to have an effect (for once!) when 5 minutes into the half Ruaraidh Jackson ghosted away for a fine try which he converted.


Again the game settled in to a pattern of Hawks possession being thwarted by sturdy Biggar defence – not all of it legal! – and some pernickety refereeing. Biggar were being allowed to dive over the ball at will to slow down rucks and Hawks almost surrendering ruck ball when the opposition took it in, for fear of being penalised. The outside backs were having to look for ball rather than wait for it to come to them and Ross Neil epitomised that attitude by carrying ball up on two or three occasions. Indeed it was Ross who profited from some fine handling in the backs to race away for a try under the posts in 25 minutes, again converted by Ruaraidh and Hawks eased away to 26-0. Another replacement, Chris Bruce, was finding the outside of his opposite number with ease, and right on the final whistle this led to Hawks 5th try, Gavin MacDonald dotting down for Ruaraidh to convert again.


FINAL SCORE: Hawks 33 Biggar 0


Not the most fluid game to watch. Biggar played to their strengths and kept the ball tight, but they never really threatened the Hawks line. More was expected of one or two Hawks players who seemed to play well within themselves. However it was a win under difficult circumstances and a pleasing factor was that we again boosted our points total and for the 2nd week in a row, the try line was preserved.


Thanks to Thirza the GHK physio for covering and congratulations to Mike Blackie on his wedding. He did text me next morning for the result! But why the delay?


Ayr at home next week, keep up the competition for places and if anyone knows a prop or two out there bring them down to training.

This article was posted on 5-Nov-2007, 08:38 by Hugh Barrow.