Date: Saturday, 11th December 2004
Kickoff time: 15:00
Against: Ayr
Team: Hawks 1st XV
Location: Home
Competition: Premiership Division 1
Final score: 16 - 7 (won)

In murky conditions at Old Anniesland Hawks ground out two results The 1st xv beat Ayr 16-7 and the 2nd xv beat Stewarts/Melville 2nd xv 21-10 It was also a good day for Glasgow Accies who beat Irvine 40-14 at New Anniesland and GHK beat Oban Lorne 26-17 on the road Sandy Strang reports in Scotland on Sunday; Hawks fly past Ayr with ease but show little panache in victory SANDY STRANG AT ANNIESLAND GLASGOW HAWKS 16 AYR 7 DEFENDING league and cup winners Hawks, fresh from last week’s Myreside mauling of Watsonians, further underlined their credentials with a solid, workmanlike disposal of resolute Ayr. But it was a drab, largely uninspiring attritional display in which Hawks failed to convert their lion’s share of possession into points. A nine-point differential in no way crystallised the significant gulf between the sides in terms of territorial and attacking thrust. Hawks chief Peter Wright was satisfied but not ecstatic about the display: "We knew we were going to be in a battle and I don’t think we were disappointed. We won the game, though, and that was key. Disappointingly, we never got out of second gear and allied to their good defence and some bad decision-making from us, together with some silly penalties conceded, meant that we failed to acquire a bonus point. "A lot of teams come here, and try to stop us playing, but that is essentially our problem which we must deal with as a team. We did not do so well enough today, and for too long seemed to expect it just to happen for us. However, we are looking forward to going up to Aberdeen next week and maintaining our challenge at the top." Hawks grabbed the initiative in that crucial first quarter, though a six-point lead through two straightforward penalties in front of the posts by Murray Strang was scant reward for their domination. Ayr defended valiantly to stem the Glasgow tide, in which emergent flanker Steve Swindell was prominent, but their problems were further compounded on the half hour mark with a double sinbinning. First scrum half Michael Goldie was yellow-carded for illegally thwarting a fine dash down the wing by quicksilver Kenny Baillie. Then No.8 Glen Tippett followed him to the sidelines for pulling down the scrum. But the doughty Ayr 13 survived the Hawks’ onslaught which for all its undoubted power lacked subtlety and imagination. Ayr were happy to reach half time without further damage inflicted. The pattern of sustained Hawks supremacy continued into the second half, but the redoubtable pink-and-black Ayr line held firm until Strang notched his third penalty in 50 minutes. Ayr inevitably tired under the constant bombardment on heavy pitch, and on the hour mark the impressive Hawks full-back Colin Shaw, eager to enhance his claims for a pro contract, stride away on a loose ball on the right, before passing inside for substitute Scott Forrest to touch down in front of the posts, Strang converting. Only in the dying minutes did Ayr manage to venture in to the Hawks half, resulting in a yellow card for Hawks’ Sandy Warnock, and a dubious penalty try converted by James Noonan after fully 87 minutes play. But it was mere tokenism, and it was a relief for all when referee Valentine brought the dour attritional injury attenuated contest to an end. It said much about the driech fare that the man of the match was named as Stewart Magorian, the Ayr centre whose robust tackling did much to hold the Hawks at bay and epitomised the never say die Ayr approach. Both coaches remained mystified by the award of this late try with an apparent disparity of view amongst the officials highlighted, one citing handling the ball on the ground and another tackling the man on the ground. Both also alluded to the referee’s general lack of feel for the game, and an all too rigid focus on the purported law book. Both Redpath and Wright however highlighted that it was the players and not the referee which was essentially wrong with the game. "We defended really well and worked magnificently hard," said Ayr coach Craig Redpath. "I am delighted for my young front row boys who held their own, and Steve Fenwick did exceptionally well against an opposition which for over an hour were in absolute control. "Unfortunately this hauls us back towards the wrong end of the table, but we do have all our players available again next week for a massive game against Currie when hopefully the Millbrae fortress can reassert itself." Glasgow Hawks: C Shaw; K Baillie, A Maclay, S Duffy, S Low; M Strang, R McKnight; E Milligan, F Thomson, P Dalton, S Warnock, R Maxton, S Swindall, N McKenzie, M Sitch. Ayr: N Lavelle; S Manning, K Bruning, S Magorian, O Scott; J Noonan, M Goldie; L Bruning, N Sykes, S Fenwick, D Kelly, J McCall, S Heaton, P Burke, G Tippett. Referee: M Valentine (Stewartry) Scorers: Hawks - Tries: Forrest; Cons: Strang: Pens: Strang 3. Ayr - Tries: Pen Try: Con: Noonan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back to News Page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- News Archive No team list has been added yet.

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