Match Report v North Berwick

An excellent all round team performance produced a resounding 44 - 15 win, after a close run first half, against a strong North Berwick side.

A touchdown and conversion for Tony Herron, to make it 7 - 0 after 3 mins, from good turnover ball and a quick ruck gave the team and the home support, who were out in good numbers, the start they were looking for. This was followed by some good scrummage and line out work and swift handling and interpassing between forwards and backs. A lovely break from John Shannon with pass to the supporting Mike Borthwick nearly ended in another quick score but he was tackled just short of the line by good defence from North Berwick. However on 16 mins, GHK produced good take and drive from a lineout 30 metres out and the well controlled maul ball was moved through the backs with Rory Love intruding and feeding Tony Herron to Danny Campbell who checked inside and popped to the looping Rory Love to score an excellently worked try in the corner. 12 - 0.

GHK had the wind behind them and it looked like this would help keep pressure on North Berwick and more scores would come to stretch the lead. North Berwick clearly hadn't read the script and produced some very good strong running and ball retention spending long periods in GHK's half and only some resolute defence throughout the whole GHK team kept North Berwick out.
However, the pressure told and North Berwick found a gap to feed their winger who went over for an unconverted score in the corner. 12 - 5 after 30 mins.
A couple of penalties gave North Berwick the opportunity to work their way back to GHK's 22 but solid defence ended with a penalty to GHK which Mike Aird cleared to half way. Momentum had been with North Berwick for the last 20 mins and things were not looking that rosy for GHK as the game moved towards half time. However GHK had shown signs that they were capable of producing good scores and a half break by John Shannon with support on hand got GHK in to North Berwick's 22 but play broke down. GHK's forward rose to the task and took the ball against the head. Several drives and rucks resulted in a penalty to GHK in front of the posts. 15 - 5 at half time.

There were some anxious faces in the crowd. With North Berwick looking strong and with the wind in the second half, would the gap be enough?

No such thoughts in the team. GHK simply moved up several gears and with growing confidence dominated in both forwards and backs as the half wore on. A try on 44 mins By John Shannon following his own half break and kick ahead,recovered through pressure on the receiver by Danny Campbell, was just the start GHK needed to settle any nerves.
A slight glitch against the run of play a couple of minutes later when Danny Campbell and Tony Herron muddled a high ball call, allowing North Berwick to gather the bounce and score out wide. Conversion missed 20 - 10.
Any thoughts that North Berwick would make further in roads were quickly dispelled when in 52 mins, Mike Borthwick took a pass from Danny Hoffmann's break, fed to Rory Love who fed back in to him and he drove through the defence for an unconverted score. 25 - 10.
More good handling and support resulted in John Shannon half breaking and popping to Danny Hoffmann to score. Tony Herron converted. 32 - 10 in 56 mins.
The way GHK were now dominating the game, more scores seemed likely. Quick ruck ball in North Berwick's 22 was moved to Tony Herron intruding in midfield to score under the posts. 39 - 10 in 64 mins.

North Berwick got one back as a result of retaining the ball from the kick off and several good drives took them over the line for an unconverted try. 39 - 15 in 66 mins.
Pete Ritchie replaced Rory Love on the wing; Alan Tilston came on at wing forward for Glen Woolard and Tommy Horton at prop for Craig Macphee. Rory Love was to rejoin the fray a few minutes later when John Shannon took an ankle knock. A reshuffle of the back line for the final 10 mins didn't stop the momentum.
Some more excellent scrummage work saw North Berwick driven off the ball. The ball was moved wide and GHK ended with a line out 15 metres in to North Berwick's half. Hugh Parker took a clean catch and broke through the North Berwick line out, fed on to the ever present Gordi Reid who in turn fed Andy Drummond who stretched his legs to round off and excellent "forwards" score for an unconverted try on the final whistle. Final score 44 - 15.

Probably the best team performance so far this season. Resolute defence throughout the team when up against some very strong driving play in the first half and the confidence and ability to create and take chances. A special mention for the unsung heroes in the boiler house in the pack who put in a power of work, disrupting opposition ball and providing a solid attacking platform for the backs.

Finally, thanks to Neil Watson (Watson - Towers) for his sponsorship. It was good to see the touch line and the Club that bit busier with many new and a few old (and some not so old) faces out at OA. Hopefully some repeat visits on the back of such an exciting team performance!

VP

This article was posted on 11-Oct-2010, 09:00 by Lindsay Kerr.

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This article was posted on 11-Oct-2010, 10:34 by Hugh Barrow.