Fireworks – eventually!

GHK welcomed East Kilbride to OA on a perfect day for rugby - dry, bright and windless, in this, the final fixture of the first half of the league season.

East Kilbride started brightly with their large pack looking to take the game to GHK but missed an early chance to go ahead from a penalty with their stand off missing from 40m.

An even better chance was to follow with a hurried clearance form GHK being gathered on the hosts’ 22 by an EK player who cut inside with a three man overlap – a real let off.

Already GHK were finding it difficult to secure good first phase ball but aggressive defence and harassing around the fringes, with Mike Aird prominent, was causing problems for EK.

GHK slowly worked their way into the game and EK’s half and a well struck penalty from Dave Reed from 40m opened their account after 15 minutes. A further quarter of an hour was to pass without the score being added to with GHK finding it difficult to win the clean quick ball their backs needed and EK seldom threatening the GHK line with their possession.

There seemed little danger to either side when EK won a line out in their own half from which they elected to put up a high kick. However, it was plucked out of the air by the alert Mike Borthwick who quickly fed his back row colleague, Gregor Hollerin who took it inside the EK 22 and drew his man before feeding the pacy Andy Fleming, making his first start at full back, for a good score in the left corner. Although the difficult conversion was missed, the try was a first sign that Andy was finding the space and time offered at full back to his liking as he was to amply demonstrate later.

Further penalties were exchanged with EK scoring with the last kick of the half to leave the game finely balanced at 11-3.

EK were reduced to 14 early in the second half when their number 7 was sent to the sin bin for an off the ball incident. Although GHK were unable to make their numerical advantage tell, this was the first of a number of occasions in the second half when EK fell foul of the referee, with their ill discipline and back chat losing them a number of penalties and several sets of 10 metre additions.

The game itself stuttered for another 20 minutes before GHK finally produced the sort of rugby that has seen them score some tremendous tries all season.

First the ball was moved from left to right and quickly recycled with a long pass from stand off Reed finding the hard working Fraser Hastie who, in turn, fed No8 Borthwick who neatly stepped inside the cover to go over with the conversion following from Reed for 18 -3.

Few of the home fans would have thought it at all likely until now that their side might gain a 4 try bonus point but, with confidence raised, GHK collected the kick off (that man Borthwick again) feeding Fleming who made good yards. With replacement back row George Oommen securing the ball at breakdown, it was quickly moved to winger Scott Eadie, who showed fine pace and balance to touch down in the left hand corner with Reed adding the extra points.

GHK were now gaining more clean possession and looking dangerous every time they had ball in hand with EK becoming increasingly frustrated and continuing to lose ground from penalties with their hooker spending the last eight minutes of the game on the touchline after being yellow carded.

As mentioned earlier, Andy Fleming was increasingly relishing the space at full back, but he must have surprised even himself when, setting off from deep inside his own twenty two, he countered spectacularly beating numerous defenders as he weaved his way up the left touchline for a firecracker (couldn’t resist it!) solo score, clinching his man of the match award.

EK didn’t give up and were rewarded with a score coming from forward drives following a couple of penalty awards in GHK territory.

Final score GHK 30 East Kilbride 8

Another satisfying win for GHK who, with the introduction of Jackson Lynch (looking solid and capable on his debut, fielded their 37th player of the season in league and shield games. The desire of all players who have featured to try to keep playing open, attractive rugby has been one of the key elements of the success earned so far. Even greater challenges no doubt lie ahead, but any team that continues to demonstrate the togetherness and spirit shown today, can look forward with no little confidence.

VP

This article was posted on 6-Nov-2011, 14:24 by Hugh Barrow.