GHK 28-11 Marr

The season kicked off in beautiful conditions at Old Anniesland on Saturday as part of a double header as GHK played title hopefuls Marr and Glasgow Hawks played the travel worthy Aberdeen Grammar.

With last seasons so close yet so far storyline still stinging in the cuts of the GHK players, the team was determined to get an early win against Marr who most have touted as GHK’s main competitors for the league title this season. The win was produced in an nervy performance which produced a bonus point for scoring 4tries with the last play of the game.

GHK welcomed back Nick Cram and Stuart Pollok in the middle row which allowed Peter Broadbent to move to blindside, a decision which was to prove fruitful during the game. It was Marr who went on the offensive from the start though and through bad tackling by the home team, the visiting centres had a couple of early breaks. When GHK did get the ball, they seemed to panic and kick it needlessly away, one of which led to the first try when the resulting lineout from a kick straight out lead to penalty to Marr. They kicked to the corner and scored from the drive to take a 0-5 lead.

GHK were looking to attach but silly penalties and basic errors let them down so it was fortunate when good defensive pressure by Fergus Wallace forced a drop in midfield, Ali Smeaton scopped up the ball and fed Andy McTavish who sprinted clear for a try in the corner, converted superbly by Jamie Millan.

GHK were getting back into the game with some good forward drives through Ryan Welsh and Colin Donald. Broadbent was ferocious in defence and was turning over a lot of ball for the home team. Some pressure on the visiting line was moved wide to Stuart Pollok who evaded three tackles before passing one handed to McTavish to go over for his double. Marr replied instantly though with a penalty from their fly half to make the half time score 12-8.

GHK made changes with Matt Stevens and Chas McFarlane coming on. The message from the coaches to improve the defence and cut out their own mistakes but the half did not start as planned with Marr going on the attack straight away. Some last gasp scramble defence saved points for the home team with Stevens and Broadbent to the fore.

McFarlane was kicking well from the base of the scrum and that gave GHK some better field position from which to attack from. The exciting home backs at last start to play with confidence and Hunter and Jones were becoming more influential in midfield. A break by Hunter led to a penalty which Millan put over but Marr replied with their own to keep the margin the same. GHK then started to play some good rugby in the last 15minutes with Jones and Smeaton creating in the back line. Good defensive pressure allowed Millan to charge down a kick, he then dribbled the ball on soccer style before picking up and sprinted over for a try on the left.

With only minutes to go, the home side knew that the bonus point was possible and went on the attack and were coming so close with 2 forward drives held up over the line. A scrum in midfield allowed a well rehearsed backline move to allow Rory Love to break, supported by McFarlane and Stevens. The ball was moved wide to Jones who floated a lovely pass wide to Smeaton who sprinted in for th bonus point try with the final move of the game.

The relief of a team that knew they did not play to their potential but still worked hard for the win was evident in the players after. Man of the match was Peter Broadbent in only his 2nd game for the club. Next week sees different type of test in the forward power of Cumbernauld, kick off 3pm away.

This article was posted on 6-Sep-2005, 13:54 by Hugh Barrow.