Club scene: GHK . . . Squad unity forms firm base from which to launch title bid
Published on 6 December 2011


Neil Drysdale

Glasgow Hawks may be facing a New Year battle against relegation, but their city counterparts, GHK, are on the crest of a remarkable sequence of victories, which has propelled them to the summit of the West Regional League.

There is no secret to their streak of 12 consecutive wins, or at least not according to their coach, Kenny Hamilton, who has always been a switched-on individual, whether as player, mentor, or match summariser. His charges have thrived on the adage that travel broadens the mind, and their precocious squad have forged strong bonds, on and off the pitch, following a summer sojourn to the United States, which highlighted the virtues of nurturing the next generation.

"It is a happy coincidence of a talented group of young players, who have become real friends, and have developed a genuine loyalty on the back of a tour which I organised to Colorado, where we visited our old GHK contacts, Murray Wallace and Norman Mottram," says Hamilton, who was one of the unsung heroes behind Hawks' unique feat in snaffling three consecutive Premiership titles from 2004 to 2006. "I don't think touring guarantees anything, but it helps, and while I would not put myself anywhere near the coaching ability of Peter Wright, who led the Hawks efforts so superbly, I think I know how to build a team and develop those most elusive ingredients, loyalty and commitment.

"The former quality has helped us win matches when we weren't playing that well – Allan Glens were very unlucky to lose to us a few weeks ago –and we have also worked to re-introduce the fun into our rugby. We play a running game, because we think that is the way to get most enjoyment out of it, and the players organise fund-raisers and social events. It is probably a bit old-fashioned, but it puts life back into the club set-up."

Hamilton spoke without bitterness of what many people regard as a wasted decade for the sport in his homeland. When professionalism was endorsed by the International Rugby Board in 1995, Brian Simmers, the brainchild behind the creation of the Hawks, argued for most of the things – such as smaller leagues and a cross-border British club competition – which have now come into existence. But there is nothing to be gained from indulging in recriminations at this juncture. Better, as the bold Hamilton says, to accentuate the positives, and the stirring fashion in which GHK and Marr College – who lie just a point behind the leaders, having played one more fixture – Irvine and Glasgow Accies have been slugging it out in the West demonstrates that there are plenty of places where the grassroots are fighting back with a vengeance.

"I also have a great coaching team, which we have put together over the last two seasons. Liam McIntyre [who has experience at age-group level with Caledonia] helps with the forwards and Rob Holdsworth – a Warriors analyst, who has a terrific insight into the game – works with the backs," said Hamilton, whose personnel may have to amend their expansive approach, as pitches grow muddier during the winter. "They, in turn, are supported by Glenn Woolard and Henry Gray, who run our Second XV. I also think it's worth noting that we have used 38 different players in our unbeaten run so far, so it is clear that we are helping to develop a lot of youngsters – and they're enjoying it."

Doughty characters in Hamilton's mould are the lifeblood of the Scottish circuit and he is enough of a realist to acknowledge that he will lose the best of his squad, as they seek greater challenges in the Premiership and elsewhere. But, for the moment, he is performing minor miracles and inspiring GHK towards the league title.

This article was posted on 6-Dec-2011, 07:44 by Hugh Barrow.