GHK RUGBY REPORT 2010/11
This was another excellent year for GHK rugby.
Twenty two league games were played with seventeen being won and one drawn. Second place eluded us by three points. For such a young team to compete at this level and be so close is a positive sign for the future. This is a credit to the players who played a fast and attractive style of rugby and the coaching team who developed them. Individual player development was evident and bodes well for next season. There is a possibility that the leagues will be reorganised into regional groups . There have been strong calls for this from many clubs as travelling costs escalated eg to Orkney. Many teams also find it hard to get young players to travel resulting in vastly different home and away teams. This was clearly seen in GHK's last two league games where they scored 107 points in each game against the opposition.
This new league would be extremely competitive and as an extra bonus would include our old friends,Glasgow Accies. No travelling time needed! However this is still to be ratified at the SRU Agm at end of June.
Winning ways continued in the Shield competition where GHK beat Preston Lodge then Highland, both from several leagues above them. A narrow loss in the quarter finals to East Kilbride from National one showed yet again that GHK can compete comfortably at this level.
A Friday night floodlit game vs Accies in the Dave Gilmore memorial game saw a comprehensive victory 29-18 in front of a large crowd. This fixture remains a favourite with players and supporters from both clubs.
Our 2 nd xv , ably coached by Henry Gray,Glen Woolard and Mike Gribben, had another good season. They played 18 and won 14. The importance of a strong 2 nd xv to a club is crucial and it played a strong part in supporting the club throughout the season.
One of the driving forces this year in terms of increased training, more social events and team bonding was the knowledge that in May a tour to the USA beckoned . This was an incredible success with all three games won and the camaraderie that only a rugby tour can give. Both on and off the field all went well and credit is due to Kenny Hamilton and his team of helpers for driving it forward to a successful conclusion. GHK rugby will be using the tour as a springboard to next season with the coaching team remaining intact.

Awards.
Our usual awards to players were boosted by the news that Mike Borthwick had been awarded the SRU National League Three player of the year Award. Anyone who has watched GHK play this year knows this was well deserved.
GHK 1ST XV 
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Joint - Craig MacPhee & Tony Herron

GHK 1ST XV 
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Cammy McLay

GHK 1ST XV 
PLAYERS' PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Mike Borthwick

GHK CLUB MAN OF THE YEAR
DANNY HOFFMAN

GHK 2nd xv
Young player - Fin Carmichael

Most improved player - Neil Kiltie

2nd XV Spirit of Rugby - Barrie Gray

Player of the year - Mike Gribben

Team of The Year- in a break with tradition the award was given to the 1st and 2nd xv coaching teams for their hard work this year
Before I finish this report it would be remiss of me not to mention the sad loss of two of our rugby members during the season. In October Charlie Forsyth sadly died after at last retiring from involvement at OA over many decades. Many words were spoken about his loss at the time but I can say that I have never seen such a flood of condolences from differing age groups from all over the world.
Later on in the year we heard about the death of a young player, Rhys Brookbanks, who played last year for GHK while on a course in Glasgow. On his return to New Zealand he was unfortunately killed in the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand.
GHK look forward to this season’s League and Scottish Cup games with confidence and anticipation. The players appreciate supporters watching and you are always assured of a warm welcome at OA.

This article was posted on 15-Jun-2011, 21:37 by Hugh Barrow.