GHK win at Paisley

Paisley 0-24 GHK

GHK travelled along the M8 to Paisley, the site where the league was effectively lost last season but there were no such problems for the league leaders this season as GHK ran in four tries and defended excellently throughout the game.

With skipper Olly Jones still injured and Dave Fearnley broadening his knowledge of the Scottish countryside, Danny Hoffman filled the inside centre jersey in an otherwise unchanged backline. The only change in the pack was in inclusion of Neil Scott at blindside in place of the injured Alex McLemon. The pitch at Paisley has never suited the GHK team who like to use the ball so the shin length grass and heavy underfoot conditions came as no surprise to the players when the stepped on the field for the warm up.

Paisley kicked off and went on the attack straight away with some rather inventive play but sound tackling from the visiting team held them out. Paisley did miss with a penalty attempt early but that seemed to spur GHK into action with some strong runs by Andy McTavish and Fraser McKinven. The home defence was dealing well with the GHK attacks until quick thinking from Cammy Little from a tap penalty caught the home team sleeping. He tapped and passed to Fergus Wallace who drew his man and popped the ball to prop Ali Forbes who bulldozed his way over the last man to score in the corner.

GHK were now looking like a real threat with Ali Smeaton and Rory Love making good breaks and the forwards were starting to influence the game with some excellent offloading. It was this style of play, which led to GHK, second try. Pressure from Cammy Little forced the home fly half to spill the ball, McKinven was on hand to pick and feed Little who offloaded to Gordy Reid, then onto Neil Gilmartin before he found Love on his shoulder who fired a massive 20yard pass wide to Smeaton who drew the last man and past to McTavish to finish off the best move of the game.

The half finished 0-10 to the visitors and the coaches made some changes at half time with Jamie Millan moving to centre, Colin Donald coming on at No8 and John Lohar made his debut at hooker.

GHK were on the attack for the majority of the half with Millan and Donald causing the home defence major problems. Little was controlling matters well at 10 and the next score came from a good catch and drive and good service from McFarlane allowed a backline move, which McTavish grabbed his double, converted by Millan. The GHK forwards were exerting their dominance with excellent lineout play and winning nearly every scrum, their own and the oppositions. Fraser McKinven was driven over the line and whilst the GHK players celebrated the ref had not seen the ball grounded and awarded an attacking scrum. The fourth try did not take long to come as more quick thinking by Little from another tap penalty led to McTavish powering over for his hatrick which was again converted by Millan.

Paisley decided to go all out attack and were camped on the GHK line but the league leaders defence was outstanding with Gilmartin and Millan making telling hits. GHK held out to gain a well earned, hard fought victory. Man of the match went jointly to John Lohar and Rory Love. This win keeps GHK top of the league with Marr also winning.

Next week sees a break from league business with the visit of National 3 team Newton Stewart. This game kicks off at 2pm at Balgray, support is welcome and will give a good opportunity to the GHK squad to prove they should be playing at a higher level.

The 12th of November sees another eagerly anticipated social event with the clubs ‘Curry and a Ceildh Night’. Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from Olly Jones, Gillon Rand, David Ross or any member of the committee.

Team: Little, Love, Smeaton, Hoffman, McTavish, Millan, Rand, Wallace, McKinven, Scott, Cram, Gilmartin, Welsh, Reid, Forbes, McFarlane, Lohar, Donald

This article was posted on 1-Nov-2005, 11:28 by Hugh Barrow.