Well this was it: our chance to get out of the West League Division 1 at the umpteenth time of asking. No need to rely on anyone else, the league title was there for us to take. A win or a draw would do.
The Presidential gaggle plus a good few extra supporters (and some mothers and even Robbie Stewart’s Grandad) settled on the touchline at a sunny Dilly in Bonhill – sounds nice doesn’t it? We were in confident mood. Even the Champ gave up Dornoch to run the line.
Right from the kick off the boys showed us we were in for a difficult day. We lost possession and Loch Lomond poured forward and for the next 20 minutes or so it was all Loch Lomond. Big, strong forwards outmuscling us all over the place.
Any chances we got to show our pace out wide were few and far between and it really looked as if the nerves were getting the better of us. We did have one good clean break with Robbie Stewart and Davy White nearly putting Mike Borthwick away but the Loch Lomond defence was up to the job.
For the next few minutes we had some decent possession from the forwards but too often careless hands or taking the wrong option just handed the momentum back to Lomond. Lomond kept up the pressure and were rewarded with a penalty which they duly converted – 14 minutes gone and 3-0. Not what my script said at all!
This galvanised the boys into even more frantic fumbling and the basics went out the window. During all this, our line out was really suffering and the scrum was also under great pressure – all in all not at all satisfactory and the touchline bufties were getting more than a tad anxious.
The last 10 minutes of the first half did see considerable improvement and we had a shot at goal after a brutal late tackle on Andy Fleming – missed unfortunately (unlike the late tackle) but at least we were now in the right part of the field.
A good gutsy run from Rory got some spark going and another penalty to us after Lomond hands in the ruck – again! Unhappily missed.
Not rolling away – again! But once more poor old Davy just could not find the middle of the uprights.
So half time and down 3-0.
The second half started much as the first with us giving the ball to the Lomond forwards who instantly applied the pressure. We managed to clear the danger with a good penalty from Robbie but it was all a bit reminiscent of Clydebank in October – ominous!
A good charge from our glorious leader did get us going a bit but, after Robbie put us down well into the opposition 22 from a penalty, we were back to the frantic passing and poor decision making.
Lomond were determined to exercise the ref’s lungs and penalty after penalty got us back into their 22. We kept possession this time and Mike Borthwick managed to plunge over for the first try of the game 17 minutes into the second half. Davy found the range this time and it was 3-7.
Three minutes later and our best handling move of the game from Andy Fleming and John Shannon so nearly saw Rory in at the corner – unfortunately, but correctly, the ref judged the final pass forward. Disappointing, but at least some of our old skill was making a tentative reappearance.
Two minutes later and a quick penalty and good simple accurate passing got Davy White over the line. He also converted. 22 minutes gone and 3-14. Considerable touchline relief.
Loch Lomond were not ready to capitulate though and the next few moments saw them camped in our 22 and all hands to the pumps defence kept them at bay. Andy Fleming smashed a huge kick away well into the Lomond half to clear the danger.
By this time big Andy McT had joined the fray after a valiant effort to join us from his skiing holiday. The ancients among you will remember a late 80s GHK coach, Brian Gilbert, commenting wryly, “When the going gets tough, the boys go skiing.” Well, McT answered that criticism like a real trooper.
Nonetheless, Lomond got back in the driving seat and, after a great deal of pressure, finally got the reward of a try – conversion missed. 8-14 and sweating buckets on the touchline despite a very cold northerly.
Davy White nearly put it to bed with a long kick at goal that bounced back off the crossbar! Great effort.
So final score 8-14 and we are league champions.
It was a little quiet on the touchline as it had been probably the worst performance of the season but the boys were elated – rightly so – and the Presidential gaggle relaxed as the reality of the victory sank in – along with the Cava – the good stuff was kept for back at the ranch!
Despite the poor performance, it was the right result and this bunch of players are to be warmly congratulated for a fine season-long effort – on and off the pitch.
Needless to say there was much hooting and tooting at Old Anniesland when we got back. Apart from a wonderful choral masterpiece of “We Are The Champions”, the highlight had to be everyone in the bar off the floor in an outstanding rendition of “Climb Up Sunshine Mountain”.
Still two more league matches to go and then the Bowl. Regardless of any of that, it will be National League rugby at OA next season.
Well done and thanks to Charlie, Ken and all the guys, you’ve made this old git very very happy.

The Veep

J Mihill, R Love, D Whyte, D Hoffman, A Fleming, R Stewart, M Aird, A Forbes, G Reid, C McLay, A Drummond, E Thow, G Woolard, P Broadbent, M Borthwick Replacements A McTavish, S Cameron, J Shannon

This article was posted on 30-Mar-2009, 20:54 by Hugh Barrow.