Match Report - September 14th 2013 ………. By Donald Reid.

Accies v GHK at New Anniesland …. Score 21 - 29

With the sun warming the spirits (not enough ice) Accies and GHK took the field in what is always a much anticipated match. The young and ambitious Accies side were taking on an experienced and street wise GHK for the first time this season, and it showed in the early exchanges. Accies were pinned down in their own 22 from the KO, and the first few minutes saw some fierce defence, following which, at one breakdown, Andy Jackson was left concussed on the ground. Five minutes gone and Accies had lost their captain, … and not for the first time in this fixture. Accies however regrouped and got back into the fray. The constant pressure, inevitably took its toll and off a ruck 5 metres out GHK took the ball down the blind side and a missed tackle allowed an easy touch down in the corner, which was well converted. Score … 0-7.

Accies tried hard to play good rugby but were being thwarted by the experience of the GHK pack in closing down the breakdown situation and on many occasions turning over possession. This was frustrating for the players and that, combined with some simple handling errors, allowed GHK to keep them pinned in their own 22 . From an almost identical move to that which had brought about the first try, GHK converted ruck ball, created from a line out, into a simple close quarter score for their powerful pack. The conversion was missed. Score … 0-12.

For the first 20 minutes, Accies had not been truly in the game, but from the re-start they managed to force a line-out inside the GHK 22. Subsequently the won ball was swiftly passed along the back division and Mike Hermes romped home for a beautifully executed training ground move. The conversion by Stewart Seaton brought the score to 7-12. ‘Game on’ we thought.

However, once again GHK responded, putting more pressure on the adventurous Accies, and were again awarded a simple penalty which was duly converted by their very consistent GHK kicker. Score … 7-15. This was the pattern of play for most of the first half with the Accies backs and forwards working hard to create space and play fast open rugby, and GHK working hard to continually put pressure on the ball carrier and tackle situations. It was a frustrating 10 minutes up to half time, and GHK were awarded two more penalties which were duly converted, giving them a considerable 7-21 lead.

During the last 5 minutes of the first half Elliot McLaren was yellow carded for what the referee of the day deemed to be a high tackle.

Still reduced to 14 men for the start of the second half, and obviously realising that they had not given of their best, this exciting group of very young Accie players picked up the pace and went on the attack. They ran everything at GHK, and some clever inter passing and good handling put young scrum-half, Ben Frame, over for a very well worked try which was duly converted by Stewart Seaton. Score … 14 - 21.

Accies were now playing some really attractive rugby and, without doubt, were making every effort to get back into the game.

Their tails were up, and they produced some really exciting rugby, however the experience of the GHK players showed in their ability, at the breakdown, to isolate the ball carrier and produce turnover ball, and by using this possession they managed to get themselves inside Accies half and were awarded another penalty which was duly converted, Score …14 -24. This scoreline was somewhat against the run of play in the second half. However, undaunted, and with the spirit of youth, Accies were soon back on the attack, and looking like the side that would score next, which happily they duly did. Despite some rather untidy ball from the back of the scrum, the ever alert and exciting scrum half Ben Frame ran directly across field drawing the majority of the defence with him and, as if from nowhere, running the best angle this scribe has seen from an Accie centre in many a game, Graham Bryden took a superb short pass from the no.9, and split the GHK defence wide open, running in from 30 metres to score the try of the match, under the posts, which was duly converted. Score …. 21 -24.

The Accies support, now very vocal, encouraged their team for a final score that could have turned the result, and the team were now piling on the pressure and it looked that it might only a be matter of time before a winning try would be scored. There were several close calls, but on each occasion a stout and determined GHK defence held out. A brief foray into Accies territory saw GHK attack down the wing, where an instinctive tackle by prop forward Elliott McLaren was deemed a yellow card offence by the referee. Sadly this was a most unfortunate situation, as the Accie prop had been previously yellow carded in the first half, for which certainly, to the Accie support, didn’t seem to be a dangerous or deliberate action. However, two yellows make a red, and McLaren was duly sent for an early bath. The effect of this dismissal seemed to take some of the steam out of Accies, and the remainder of the second half was played in Accies territory, where a simple error at the last lineout of the game allowed GHK to score a further try, thus denying Accies of what might have, at least, been a deserved ‘loosing’ bonus point. The dream for this young Accies side nearly came about, but the reality was that the effective forward display by the strong GHK pack brought about their victory. Final Score 21- 29

Accies can be extremely proud of their second half performance. If they continue to play with the same ambition and flair, they will learn from each experience against more street wise opponents. There is, undoubtedly, real prospect of a good Accies side in the making.

It was clear from the relief on the GHK supporters and players faces, that they realised they had won a game that had so very nearly slipped away from them.

This article was posted on 16-Sep-2013, 06:20 by Hugh Barrow.