SUNDAY HERALD REPORTS
Glasgow Hawks 21 - 14 Currie
Alex Gordon at Old Anniesland


FOR the second week in succession the champions failed to score in the first half, yet still walked away winners. However, Currie were extremely unlucky as they battered Hawks’ line until the death and should be disappointed that they didn’t gain a draw.
The visitors deserved all the plaudits for a first 40 minutes where they dominated Hawks in all areas. They pulled ahead in four minutes with an Andy Muir penalty after Hawks skipper, Mark Sitch came in on the wrong side.

Currie controlled the ball superbly, only being foiled by some well worked Hawks defence. The visitors were far more adventurous than the champions, who were forced to play most of their rugby in their own 22.

As Currie pulled further ahead in 15 minutes with a second Muir penalty, it was scant reward for their super iority. Hawks by contrast came close to scoring against the run of play as the game entered the second quarter. But their normally dependable lineout struggled under pressure and the ball from scrums were scrappy.

By 30 minutes Currie were 9-0 ahead with a third penalty in a half which they dom inated. Much as Hawick last week, Currie now know the pressure must be turned into points or you will suffer the consequences.

When the second period began the home crowd seemed complacent as they recognised that the champ ions had been here before.

Hawks immediately began on the offensive, with half-time replacement Nick Cox leading the charge. The former England Under-21 has come to Glasgow to study at bible college but there was little sign of any compassion as he ran on to a ball from Steven Duffy, and then crashed through the Currie defence carrying three tacklers over the line to score under the posts. With Mike Adamson converting, the fightback had started.

Five minutes later Hawks pulled ahead with another superb try. Murray Strang off-loaded to a flying Duffy who evaded his cover, Dougie Flockhart, running over well to the left of the posts. Duffy held off with the touchdown as Flockhart stopped chasing, then had the presence of mind to run round and score beneath the posts, allowing the simple conversion.

To the home support it seemed to be business as usual when they pulled further ahead on the hour.

Currie were forced on to the back foot and eventually knocked-on in their own 22. As the ball bounced and advantage was played, Strang kept his wits about him and kicked ahead, eventually touching down to the right of the posts.

A third Adamson two-pointer gave Hawks a 12 point lead.

Then something strange happened. As the home support mused as to when the bonus point would come, it didn’t. In fact, the final quarter was completely dominated by the visitors.

This article was posted on 9-Oct-2005, 08:31 by Hugh Barrow.