Bitter blow in the title race

Clydebank 3 Glasgow High Kelvinside 13

TOUGH TASK: Clydebank pushed GHK hard at Whitecrook
THIS table topping clash left Clydebank with a bitter taste in their mouth.
It was not just the defeat which leaves GHK now leading by two points with a game in hand, but the Glasgow club’s move to include several players from their associated Premiership outfit Glasgow Hawks.
Perhaps running scared from an earlier 9-0 defeat at Old Anniesland — GHK’s only league loss this season — they lined up with a strong side determined to make amends, but one which damaged their dignity in the Clydebank club’s eyes.
And such was the importance of this match, a Premiership referee had been assigned to officiate.
In the first half, Clydebank easily contained the GHK attacks, but their lack of professional know-how was to be their ultimate undoing.
The first quarter was a fairly even affair with both teams having penalty attempts at goal, although it was the away team who converted theirs to take the lead.
Just before the half hour mark, GHK made a break from a quick line out and crossed the line only for it to be disallowed, but from the retake, Clydebank had a player sinbinned for retaliating to persistent intimidation.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the forwards and backs combined well to set Ross McCombe off for the line, but GHK recovered and cleared their lines.
Ross Moffatt brought Clydebank level just after the break with a well taken penalty and it was game on, with the men from Whitecrook soon camped on the GHK line.
Sadly they could not overcome a bout of white line fever and coupled with the help of a number of offside opponents, failed to cross for a try.
Eventually, Clydebank tired and GHK cleared their lines. Soon after, from a quickly taken attacking lineout for the visitors, GHK broke down the wing and scored a converted try.
Clydebank tried to get back into the game, but failed to make a dent in the GHK defence.
His premier credentials under scrutiny, the referee struggled to manage the scrums, resulting in one Clydebank second row picking up a neck injury.
And the ref also flashed a yellow card at another Clydebank player for dissent, his decision infuriating the home support as he had chosen to keep it in his top pocket moments previously for a similar GHK offence.
A late penalty meant there was to be no loss point for Clydebank either on a day in which both sides worked hard throughout and demonstrated why they are at the right end of the table.
The 2nd XV travelled to Old Anniesland and succumbed to a good GHK 2nd XV. The score was 34-0, much better than the 60 plus point win GHK inflicted earlier in the season.

This article was originally posted on 28-Jan-2009, 12:53 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 28-Jan-2009, 20:57.