Ardrossan Accies 7 Glasgow Hawks 76
 
With a two weeks lay off for Christmas and New Year looming it was important for Hawks to get a game before the start of the crucial league programme starting on the 14th of January. Fortunately they had a postponed Royal Bank of Scotland West Region cup-tie against Ardrossan Accies at Ardrossan, possibly one of the few club grounds in Scotland where play was possible after heavy overnight frost and snow. The pitch was in good condition and the sun shone but it was still bitterly cold. However the Hawks coaching team must have left Ardrossan with a warm glow as their charges put in a competent display and dispatched their plucky opponents by 13 tries to 1. Despite the score this was for the most part a competitive and entertaining game of rugby. The hosts never gave up but in the end were overwhelmed by the power and pace of the Hawks side that, by and large, managed to complete the basics at speed and with accuracy.
The first ten minutes were all Ardrossan as they kept control of the ball. Their tactics of playing ruck and maul rugby while still deep in their own half played right into Hawks hands. They would have posed a greater threat if they had simply hoofed the ball down the park and made Hawks play in their own half of the field. Each time that they lost possession Hawks gathered the ball and broke away at speed resulting in three tries by the 16th minute. The first by right-winger Tom Steven followed by full back Aubrey Horton and then left winger Kerr Gossman, fresh back from the recent Scotland 7’ tournaments in Australia, Dubai and South Africa. For the remainder of the half until the last minute Ardrossan tackled as if their lives depended on it and made life difficult for Hawks in all aspects of the game. But with the last play of the half, centre, Gavin Macdonald burst through the defence and running like a spring chicken scored under the posts and Mikey Martin converted for a half time scoreline of 0-22.
To the delight of the frozen spectators they found that hot soup and pies were available on the touchline. A great idea from this innovative and hospitable Club.
In the first minute of the second period, lock, Ross Miller also fresh back from  Scotland 7’s duties demonstrated why he was in the 7’s squad by simply outpacing everyone from 40 metres out to score at the side of the posts. After that, apart from the 65th minute it was just a prossession of Hawks scores. On that timing the courageous and determined Ardrossan side proved that it wasn’t going to be all Hawks by scoring a try following a drive by their pack. They also demonstrated that you can kick goals from the touchline. Hawks only managed 5 conversions from 13 attempts and practice in that area is needed over the holidays.
Rory McKay added a try in the 50th minute that Peter Jericavich converted to bring the score to 34-0.
After that all the replacements took the field and as if to make a point two of them, scrum half, Chris Hamilton and, prop, Paul Henderson scored spectacular individual tries. Other scores came from second tries for Aubrey Horton and Kerr Gossman, Grant Strang and Dylan Karaitiana.
This was just the sort of work out that Hawks needed and with four wins in a row and a number of players back from injury are starting to look in good shape for the battles ahead

This article was originally posted on 18-Dec-2011, 10:24 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Russell Sim on 18-Dec-2011, 18:11.