Garnock v GHK Saturday 13th October 2012, Lochshore, Glengarnock

GHK travelled to North Ayrshire for an RBS West Regional Division 1 league fixture with Garnock. The hosts kicked off in weather and conditions generally that were actually quite decent for rugby. In the early stages GHK got themselves into some good positions in the opposition territory with some aggressive driving play, but were unable to get points on the board. Just short of the fifteen minute mark, another break into Garnock territory was brought to an abrupt end by a high tackle by the Garnock number twelve. This resulted in a penalty and a yellow card for the offender. Mike Aird kicked the points to give GHK a 3-0 lead.
Despite being down to fourteen men there then followed a period of play when Garnock were camped deep in the GHK half. Some resolute defence looked to have seen off the home side’s attacking efforts, especially when Garnock were penalised just inside the GHK 22. However, the resulting penalty did not find touch and, as he did on numerous occasions throughout the afternoon, the Garnock stand-off returned the kick to the GHK 22 and on this occasion a favourable bounce eluded the GHK defence and resulted in the Garnock number 13 crossing over in the left hand corner for the first try of the day. The conversion was missed. 5-3 to Garnock after twenty four minutes.
GHK got straight back into the opposition territory and another infringement by a member of the Garnock pack, in midfield about 35 metres out, gave Mike Aird the opportunity to restore the lead which he duly did. 6-5 to GHK.
We struggled to put together repeated passages of play, and the remainder of the half saw the home side increasingly playing the game in GHK territory and a minute before the half time whistle an offside call against GHK resulted in the Garnock number 10 giving his side an 8-6 lead at the break.

Straight from the kick off, it was clear that GHK had upped the level of intensity and breaks by Danny Hoffman and Gregor Hollerin saw GHK in a great attacking position in front of the Garnock posts. Almost inevitably the home side were penalised and quick thinking by Mike Aird saw him take a tap penalty and force his way over the line for a try which he converted. 13-8 to GHK.
Following the pattern of the game so far, Garnock came right back at us and the referee spotted an offside by GHK and the penalty awarded was converted by the reliable Garnock number 10. 13-11 GHK after forty seven minutes. Another penalty by Mike Aird made it 16-11, but on the fifty minute mark Garnock scored a try that was all too similar to their first score. GHK did not find touch with a clearing kick and the home side’s backs combined well to cross the line in the left hand corner. The conversion was missed. 16-16.

GHK responded well and managed to play much of the game in and around the Garnock 22. However, an occasional lack of composure and some serial offending by the hosts meant that our pressure was not rewarded with a try. Nevertheless, the referee, having penalised Garnock at the breakdown for the umpteenth time, clearly had had enough and yellow carded the Garnock loose head. Mike Aird, who else, kicked the points. 19-16 to GHK going in to the last quarter.
A man to the good, and playing with a bit of an advantage in terms of the slope of the pitch, you might have thought that the initiative was with GHK. Not so. From the restart GHK were penalised and the scores were level at 19 all. A minute later Garnock returned the favour and Mike Aird did the needful. 22-19 with fifteen minutes to go.

Again despite being down to fourteen men Garnock came back at the visitors and scored their third try after a quick tap and drive. Fortunately once again the score was wide out on the left and the conversion was beyond the stand-off’s range. Nevertheless after sixty nine minutes Garnock were in a 24-22 lead.

GHK got themselves back in to the Garnock half and true to form the home forwards infringed and Mike Aird edged GHK back in front with his sixth successful kick of the day. 25-24 to GHK with nine minutes to go. In the closing stages of the match, GHK managed to keep the home side at bay in their own half. Aubrey Horton, who had featured in a number our offensive efforts, attempted to close out the game with a drop goal, having been set up by good work by the GHK pack. His effort struck the post and from the scramble that followed the rebound the home side were penalised and Mike Aird extended the visitors’ lead to four points. 28-24 to GHK. The last few moments of the game saw Garnock try to position themselves for one last attempt at the GHK line, but the tackles were made and we wound the game down for a hard earned and deserved victory despite being outscored on the try count.

Full time.

Garnock 24 GHK 28

This article was posted on 15-Oct-2012, 09:05 by Hugh Barrow.