Cumbernauld teach GHK a lesson

1st XV

Cumbernauld 27 – GHK 12

Cumbernauld welcomed fellow title contenders GHK to Auchenkilns on Saturday for what looked on paper to be a difficult fixture.

The early exchanges were even before the home pack, as they have done so often this year, began to exert their dominance and take control up front. With Stokes pinning the visitors in their own half with some wonderful tactical kicking. The relentess pressure eventually bore fruit on 26 minutes when Caldwell kicked a long penalty to put Cumbernauld 3 points ahead.

Straight from the restart Cumbernauld again drove into the opponents 22 and after a few minutes of pressure Rush powered over from a 5 metres to stretch the lead to 8 points.

With their noses in front Cumbernauld’s backline started to open the field, playing with less caution and after several phases of good interplay, Wallace glided home from 25 metres out to put Cumbernauld a comfortable 13 points in front at half time.

The second half continued in the same pattern and Inverarity scored and Caldwell converted to put the home side seemingly out of site at 20 points to nil on 49 minutes.

GHK had other things in their mind, as they picked up the gauntlet and played some excellent rugby of their own to score twice in 2 minutes converting the second to bring themselves back to within 8 points.

Home nerves were a bit frayed and with the clock against them GHK through caution to the wind and started running the ball at every opportunity, but the home defence were not in any frame of mind to relinquish any more of their lead, stopping the visitor onslaught at every opportunity.

With 30 seconds left on the clock, Cumbernauld broke free of their own 22m area, and after three quick phases of possession, G Gilmour found himself in space on the left wing and darted over from 20 metres to secure the victory and much sought after bonus point.

Next week Cumbernauld travel to Fintry to face Strathendrick, bringing the league campaign to the halfway stage. Kick off is at 2 pm all support is warmly welcomed.

Cumbernauld: Caldwell, R Gilmour, G Cowie, G Gilmour, Wallace, Stokes, Au, Rush, McTier, West, Birnie, Chriton, R Cowie, McLeod, Inverarity, Meenagh, Lawler, Gallagher


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This article was posted on 5-Nov-2007, 11:46 by Hugh Barrow.