SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS


GLASGOW HAWKS 44
HERIOT'S 19

THE inexorable Hawks machine grinds on. The rye smile on David Wilson's face at full time spoke volumes. His defending champions, dubbed faltering and fortuitous by the critics of late, and missing Powerhouse locks Ritchie Maxton and Steve Begley, had just disposed of the robust challenge of much wanted, aspirant Heriot's. And they did so playing the more expressive brand of enterprising rugby which Will Wilson is passionately committed to inculpate in his new charges. Seven fine tries - six from the back - says it all.


Sweet revenge it was too for that shock result of last season when the Nails travelled along the M8 and hammered 5 tries into the Hawks coffin.

The match kicked off late to accommodate a double-header - Glasgow Accies v Linlithgow with the earlier offering at New Anniesland - as part of the on-going celebrations of 100 years of rugby at this venue. And it was Hawks who seemed the more eager to make up for lost time as they deservedly went ahead after only 3 minutes when quick thinking by Mike Adamson at a penalty released winger Stuart Lowe to score in the left corner. Hawks then went 12 points ahead after only 5 minutes when winger Stevie Gordon charged down a loose Heriot's clearance to score under the posts, Adamson converting.

The Nails fought back briefly, and some slick handling allowed returning skipper James Osborne to drive over, Anders Munro converting to reduce the leeway to 12-7 after only 9 minutes.

Undaunted Hawks continued to play the more fluent, imaginative rugby, and deservedly added a third try after 20 minutes when some scintillating passing along the line eventually saw influential stand-off Murray Strang link with Stuart Lowe to score in the left corner. A towering Mike Adamson penalty from fully 35 yards stretched the Glasgow lead before further brilliant handling along the backs released flanker Neil McKenzie to secure the 4-try bonus point and stretch Hawks advantage to 27-7, all before the half hour mark.

Although ex-Hawk flanker Roddy Deans reduced the leeway with a powerful drive on 35 minutes, Hawks were unequivocally full value for their 27-12 interval lead.

Hawk's utter ascendancy against a surprisingly lacklustre Nails outfit resumed on the restart. Neil McKenzie had a second try effort chalked off, but the beleaguered Goldenacre men were merely delaying the inevitable as centre Ally McClay, in his first start on his return from Sydney University, snatched a 5th try on 52 minutes, bursting through after yet another sustained passage of incisive handling from the champions.

By the hour mark Heriot's were visibly demoralised, totally outgunned up front, shambolic in the lineouts, and out run and out thought in the loose.

Some credit, though, to the Edinburgh men for attempting a comeback, and after some spirited running centre Canny Goodall broke through on the left after 65 minutes, Anders Munro converting to cut the leeway to 32-19.

But this served as only a minor wake up call to Hawks who instantly upped a gear and a neat pass inside by scrum half Steven Biggart allowed Adamson to run through unimpeded through the posts before adding the conversion himself.

Replacement Andy McPhail then got in on the act in the dying minutes, adding a 7th try with contemptuous ease to push the lead out to 44-19.

These are anxious times for Heriot's coach Ivan Tukalo and Jock Bryce. Last Saturday at full time the incandescent Tukalo fulminated expansively against the referee, but this week he could have few complaints on that score. Referee Ian Herd controlled the contest admirably with quietly effective aplomb. This was the Nails third successive defeat, and they are undoubtedly struggling to replace the incisive 2-midscoring duo of Nick De Luca and Robb Durey both at Edinburgh. The Goldenacre men have a squad of undoubted talent, but once again are labouring to produce that elusive consistency as the hard winter yard loom. Twelve points behind Hawks at this early juncture is an ominous margin.

Returning Captain James Osborne was hugely disillusioned with his troops as he harangued them on the final whistle. "This was a hugely disappointing display, and we were far too easily knocked over in the tackle. This won't do".

Powerhouse Hawks centre Ally McClay was deservedly nominated the sponsors man of the match for an outstanding hard-running display.

Glasgow: C Shaw, S Lowe, M Adamson, A McClay, S Gordon, M Strang, S Biggart, E Milligan, M Smith, P Dalton, S Warnock, M Sitch, G Francis, N McKenzie, S Forrest, S Fell, M Stevens, S Pollock, A McPhail.

Heriot's: J Thompson, C Bruce, G Sneaton, S Manning, A Munro, M Goldie, M Welsh, S Mustard, G Talac, J Osborne, A Dall, A McDonald, R Deans, J Syme. G Ruthgerford, N Miekle, M Thomson, T McVey.

Referee: Ian Herd (Gala).

Scorers: Hawks: Tries: Low Gordon, Strang, McKenzie, McClay, Adamson, McPhail. Conversions: Adamson 3, Penalties: Adamson. Heriot's: Tries: Osborne, Deans, Goodall. Conversions: Munro 2


SOME of us were fortunate enough to be given a timely reminder of an era when Scottish club rugby was in similar rude health. Hawks celebrated the 100th anniversary of rugby at New Anniesland with a lunch ahead of their league match. Heriot's were the appropriate opponents because back in 1922 Glasgow Accies, one of the forerunners of Hawks, played the men from Goldenacre in front of a 10,000 strong crowd; a record attendance for club sides that lasted many years. Yesterday saw a double-header, Accies played Linlithgow and Hawks faced the challenge from one of their main rivals for the Premier One title. The crowd? About one tenth of the 1922 number...

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This article was originally posted on 25-Sep-2005, 07:24 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-Sep-2005, 08:29.