Lenzie v GHK Match Report

Before the first kick of the game, GHK were forced to change their starting line-up when Davie McKeown pulled his hamstring in the warm-up. A considerable setback considering young Davie’s emergence from his position as lead purveyor of Hodge’s curry pies last season to a surging centre this campaign.

However, with every setback comes a positive – and in this case, two positives. Not only did the GHK travelling faithful have the opportunity to set their eyes on new recruit Kyle Matheson for the first time, but it also gave no less than four bufties the opportunity to quip: “well that’s wee Davie’s best chance of getting a pull” .

Kyle was not the only new recruit, with Marc Taylor – returning to GHK after a hiatus of several years – replacing his brother Ross on the wing. The elder Taylor brother had one of the best chances of the game early on. As blindside winger from a scrum he made a surging break, evading several tacklers with his lightning pace, only to be let down by his offload deep inside the Lenzie 22.

Several successful line-outs meant the visitors were able to build a solid foundation throughout the games opening phases. It was the backs who were unable to capitalise. With GHK securing plentiful possession, promising attacks came to nothing as the ball repeatedly hit the deck, most notably of which from some very inefficient offloads from Daniel Hoffman, which is surprising considering he is so German.

However opportunities kept coming their way thanks to some diligent work by the forwards, in particular the constant menacing presence of Nick Hurn and Michael Borthwick who worked well in tandem at the breakdown.

It was a breakdown which led to the first points of the game, when a Lenzie player was penalised for hands in the ruck and the human metronome Davie Reed slotted the ball from outside the 22 to secure three points for GHK.

Lenzie played an extremely safe and steady kicking brand of rugby, which was beginning to put GHK under some pressure. They evened up the scores when Colin Neilsen was given a telling off for similar naughty play around the breakdown. Lenzie took the opportunity gladly and duly evened up the score to 3-3.

GHK immediately replied with a try from birthday boy Pete Ritchie - a powerful run from around 20 yards. The nostalgic among us could compare it to a similar try from the captain against East Kilbride two years prior, which secured GHK’s undefeated league campaign. David Reed made it 10-3 with his conversion.

Before the half Lenzie increased their total to six from the boot, then GHK again found themselves in the opposition 22 thanks in part to a scintillating dart down the left touchline from Calum Ruxton. From there, in a passage of play which even saw the referee involved in a ruck, GHK’s Davie Reed added another three points from a penalty.

With the game looking to be an open one in the second half, GHK took full advantage and added to their tally. They scored from the most simple move of the day – an expert demonstration of Hodge’s hot potato – which resulted in a try out wide for Danny Hoffman, playing but looking revitalised in the unfamiliar 13 role. David Reed uncharacteristically missed the ensuing conversion.

Soon after, Kieren Boles, playing his best game so far in a GHK shirt, was forced to leave the game with injury. The young hooker was diligent in defence and contributed several strong carries, the best of which sadly resulted in him leaving the field. Adam Johnston, starting on the bench because of a persistent ankle injury, replaced him and made immediate impact with a side-stepping, toe-tapping dart down the left.

A break from Kyle Matheson was indicative of the day the backs were having. The rugby league convert used pace, power and ingenuity to cut a hole through the Lenzie defence and scamper nearly forty yards towards the try line but it was a poor offload which ended yet another promising moment.

Then, things finally came together a few minutes later. In a planned move from a scrum the backs looked like a well-oiled machine when Marc Taylor proved there was no answer to unadulterated pace when he left several Lenzie tacklers for dead and scored under the posts. This time David Reed made no mistake and slotted the conversion to make the score 25-6.

There are certain moments in life where you know you will one day be able to say to your grandkids “I was there”. I for one can’t wait to recount the story of when Michael Borthwick took a break from mashing his face into every possible contact to clear GHK’s lines with a powerful kick – and what a kick it was. The flanker showed there is no limit to his skillset as his drive went from outside his own 22 and bobbled, towards the opposition try line.

From the ensuing lineout after Lenzie’s full-back cleared the ball in both shock and panic, prop Colin Neilson touched down in what was a true forwards try and secured the bonus point and the 30-6 win in the process.

GHK man of the match – Michael Borthwick

The flanker’s constant high standard of performance means he is usually overlooked for such honours but in this instance due to his all-action shift – and mostly because of his flamboyant kick – this scribe has no other option.
This article was posted on 14-Oct-2013, 11:40 by Ronnie Gourley.

This article was posted on 14-Oct-2013, 12:54 by Hugh Barrow.