Match Report v Marr

GHK's run of good form continues with an excellent away win 20 - 10 over league leaders Marr.

GHK showed their intent right from the start with Andy Fleming beating Marr's blitz defence with a great break,but the support couldn't get to him before the cover defence and Marr recovered the ball and cleared to half way.
GHK dominated the early exchanges but couldn't convert the possession in to points. Perhaps nerves and trying to force the game were playing their part as GHK made several lovely runs with support but loose passes and knock-ons at key moments, and a couple of missed penalties by both sides, kept the scoreboard blank for the first 20 mins.
However with GHK looking dangerous,the first score came when the forwards took a line out at half way and drove in to the Marr midfield, producing quick ruck ball which was moved right with Tony Herron intruding;from the resultant tackle/ruck Danny Campbell took the pass and with a neat side step ran in to score. Andy Fleming converted. 7 - 0.
Marr pulled 3 points back with a penalty in 24 mins. Sandy Bruce came on at flanker for Gerry Hawkes in 32 mins.
A further penalty against GHK was reversed when Marr gave some back chat,ultimately being marched back 30 metres. Andy Fleming hit the post with the long range attempt and Marr cleared. Marr were coming more in to the game and played for territory keeping GHK pinned back around their 22 for the last few minutes of the first half. Marr missed a further penalty chance and the half finished 7 - 3 to GHK.
Despite Marr excerting more pressure,GHK continued to look the more dangerous with good all round play from both forwards and backs. Would GHK regret not finishing off a few of the first half chances?
It began to look that way as Marr picked up their game and when their wing forward burst through at pace and broke clear a score looked certain but the GHK cover got back and ripped the ball in the tackle,clearing the ball to touch.
Nerves on the touchline were partially settled when Tony Herron produced a good break with a long pass to Rory Taylor who handed off his man and went for the corner. Only a great cover tackle from the Marr no.9 prevented the score but GHK were awarded a penalty, which was nudged to the 5 metre line. The lineout was taken and driven with Mikey Borthwick finishing off a well worked try. Andy Fleming converted. 12 - 3 after 45 mins.
Quick hands from turnover ball produced another break and long run from Rory Taylor but again the Marr no.9 got across to put in the cover tackle. From the scrum, Marr cleared but the kick didn't find touch. Rory Taylor caught the ball and fed to Tony Herron and on to Danny Campbell who side stepped past a couple of defenders but the pass to the support was dropped.
In 55 mins,after several phases of drives and rucks the ball was shifted through the hands to Tony Herron who finished off to score out wide. No conversion. 17 - 3.
Gerry Hawkes came back on for Sandy Bruce. Marr then produced a fightback and put pressure on with strong running from forwards and backs but the GHK tackling and cover defence held firm. An injury to a Marr prop in 68 mins resulted in uncontested scrums and from a scrum in GHK's 22, Marr finally broke through the GHK defence for a well worked,converted, score. 17 - 10.
As the scrums were uncontested Alan Tilston came on for Cammy McLay.
By now Marr were very much in the game and continued to pile on the pressure. However GHK still looked very capable of scoring again and having made ground to Marr's 22 were awarded a penalty which Andy Fleming converted from 25 metres out. 20 -10.
GHK nearly got the bonus point which their overall performance deserved when Mike Aird produced a deft chip over the forwards but the very unlucky 90 degree bounce eluded Rory Taylor who would have been in at the corner.
Final score, a very well deserved win 20 - 10. All to play for over the coming weeks.

VP

This article was posted on 22-Nov-2010,

This article was posted on 22-Nov-2010, 22:06 by Hugh Barrow.