East Kilbride RFC v GHK
Saturday November 3 2012

GHK made the trip to East Kilbride for league fixture on Saturday in the knowledge that their hosts were likely to present a significant challenge to their aspirations to put in a challenge at the top of the league. And so it proved.

East Kilbride kicked off and overhead conditions were fair, however the pitch was soft to start with and would inevitably cut up. From the start the hosts played a game that suited the conditions and made best use of their skills and discipline. It was clear that East Kilbride had a game plan that involved keeping it tight, using the pick and drive tactic, supporting in numbers and using their midfield backs to cross the gain line. Thankfully GHK contested the early stages well and restricted the hosts to only occasional visits to the GHK twenty two. The visitors received a blow after twelve minutes when in bringing an East Kilbride attack to an end, not only were they penalised for not rolling away, but Gregor Hollerin sustained an injury that saw him leave the field not to return. Dave Mitchell took his place. The home side kicked their goal from about thirty five metres and first blood was drawn by East Kilbride. 3-0 to East Kilbride after thirteen minutes.

To be fair neither side was putting together much in the way of fluid passing rugby at this time. The style being adopted by East Kilbride certainly seemed to more effective, but to their credit GHK continued to try and play the expansive game that has served them well for so long. An incursion deep in to the home half saw GHK in a decent attacking position having put together a few penetrative phases of play. An award of a penalty to GHK after sixteen minutes gave Davie Reed the chance to level the scores and that was an opportunity he duly accepted. 3 -3 after sixteen minutes.

The remainder of the first half did not produce much in the way of continuity or phases of play from either side. From a GHK point of view, the usual combinations were not working and a few dropped passes along with a mis-directed kick or two meant that there was not the build up of momentum and intensity that GHK followers have been used to in recent weeks. If anything, the hosts were more settled in to their own pattern of play and were pretty effective in taking the game to GHK although not really threatening the visitors’ line. After about twenty five minutes, East Kilbride launched a powerful assault down the GHK right. GHK were penalised but from the ensuing fracas the referee reversed the penalty allowing Davie Reed to take play well in to the East Kilbride half. The visitors’ line out was operating well and a clean Pete Ritchie take ensured good ball for Mike Aird to try and get the line moving. The hosts were penalised at the breakdown and Davie Reed converted a stylish penalty from about thirty five metres out left. 6-3 GHK.

There was little pattern in terms of constructive play to the remainder of the half. East Kilbride were playing their game but not making much progress and GHK were struggling to complete more than a couple of passes. There was no more scoring in the first half although Cammy McLay did his best to bring shame on the front row by kicking the ball in open play. In his defence, perhaps he was indeed too fast for the support.
Half time East Kilbride 3 GHK 6
Almost straight from the GHK kick off, East Kilbride got in to GHK territory and looked as though, really for the first time, that they were threatening the visitors’ line. Although the GHK defence was creaking a little at times, they managed to hold fast. Indeed, a great break out by Mike Borthwick took play almost the length of the field in to the heart of the hosts’ twenty two. Mike was eventually penalised not for failing to let his opponent up on his feet, but for putting him on his back again too vigorously. The danger was cleared and this was the start of a period when the East Kilbride pack noticeably upped the level of intensity in the loose. They were committing players to the tackle, recycling ball, repeating the process and by this method were gaining ground and punching holes in the GHK defence. It was not an entirely forward based effort by East Kilbride as their back three in particular returned a number of loose kicks with penetrative runs in to GHK territory. They were playing their game much more effectively than GHK. It was very much with the run of play that, after fifty five minutes, several continuous assaults by East Kilbride finally breached the visitors’ line and scored the first try of the day leaving a straightforward conversion about five metres to the right of the GHK posts. 10-6 to East Kilbride. Tommy Horton replaced the injured Owen McInroy at this point.

It was clear from the reaction of the GHK contingent that they fully appreciated that they were in a contest and that their hosts were very much ‘up for it’. However, it was one of those days for GHK. Passes were not going to hand, kicks were not finding touch, a few tackles were being missed (and there were a lot of tackles required given the amount of possession East Kilbride were enjoying). When we did get in to good positions penalties were conceded. There was a sense of frustration that we were not able to put significant pressure on the hosts. Fraser McLeod replaced hard workingssss Alasdair Patrick after sixty eight minutes.

At last a decent passing move saw GHK into the East Kilbride twenty two. The home side were penalised for going over the top, something that the referee, who had a decent game, appeared willing to overlook previously. Again another Davie Reed penalty saw GHK to within a point of the hosts. 10-9 to East Kilbride. That however was the end of the scoring. Despite a few visits to the home side’s twenty two in the remaining eight minutes or so, GHK were unable to fashion any clear scoring chances. East Kilbride held out for a narrow, but deserved victory.

It was a frustrating day for GHK and their supporters. However, East Kilbride stuck to their plan and performed better on the day. It will be interesting to see how GHK deal with the return fixture scheduled for March 2013 on a date to be confirmed.

This article was posted on 5-Nov-2012, 07:19 by Hugh Barrow.