Lenzie v GHK Match Report October 25, 2014
Lenzie RFC v GHK Saturday 25 October 2014
GHK’s encounter with Lenzie on Saturday was preceded by a minute’s silence by way of a tribute to Jimmy Docherty who passed away last week. International cap, stalwart of Glasgow High School FP, Club President and a true gentleman – Jimmy was all of these things and more. Thank you to Lenzie for allowing us to mark this sad occasion in this way and for the kind remarks about Jimmy at lunch.
Games at Viewfield between these sides have always been keenly contested and the visitors would only be too well aware that their hosts would serve up a very warm reception on the pitch as well as a fine sponsors lunch that was enjoyed in the warmth of the Lenzie clubhouse. Outside, the elements confirmed that time had been called on our Indian summer.
Scott Robertson returned at full back for GHK with Lucas Correa resuming his place in the visitors’ second row. It was Lenzie who played with the advantage of the wind and rain but in the early exchanges it was GHK that had the edge in territory. A long clearing kick took play deep in to the GHK 22. An attempt to run out of defence was thwarted by the enthusiastic home chasers and possession captured. After a couple of further attacking exchanges, the Lenzie backs moved the ball right and capitalised on the space that had been created by touching down for the first try of the day. The conversion slid by but with barely ten minutes on the clock the hosts had a handy five point advantage.
Despite playing in to the wind, GHK did spend large chunks of the remainder of the half in the opposition’s twenty two, but a combination of some unfortunate handling (in very challenging conditions) and some pretty fierce defence and close quarter tackling kept scoring chances to a minimum. The award of a yellow card for a Lenzie prop gave GHK a temporary advantage but the home defence held out whilst a man down. With a couple of minutes remaining in the first period it looked as though Gregor Hollerin had burst through and was sure to score, but again last ditch defence saved the day. However, before the referee could bring the first session to a close GHK did reduce the leeway to a mere two points courtesy of a Scott Robertson penalty.
GHK quickly got in to decent field position early in the second half, but any notion that Lenzie might capitulate was very quickly dispelled as the hosts showed some very abrasive defensive qualities and indeed, on occasions, made very decent ground with effective short quarter combinations and driving. Any points that GHK might get, they were most definitely going to earn the hard way.
With half an hour remaining GHK made a double change with Calum Pender and Scott Cameron being replaced by Mikey Martin and Kieron Boles, with Rory Long switching to the wing. GHK continued to try and keep playing the game in the Lenzie half and after some positive passages of play another home infringement offered Scott Robertson the chance to double the GHK tally from a penalty. His strike was true and the OA team surged in to a one point lead. 6-5 to GHK.
A few moments later GHK found themselves in a great attacking position after a towering Mikey Martin kick was carried over giving a five metre scrum to the visitors. A few drives later, having created some gaps in the well structured Lenzie defence, the ball was transferred wide and Gregor Hollerin made it over the line for a well worked try. Scott Robertson added two more points with a very fine conversion from the ‘wrong’ side for a lefty.
The Lenzie heads did most certainly not go down at this reversal, far from it. They continued to ask questions of the GHK defence and posed significant threats all over the park. When Nick Hurn was yellow carded, apparently after kicking out when he had been stamped upon, the visiting support feared that momentum might swing to the hosts at a critical stage in proceedings. However, the GHK ranks pulled together and put in a very impressive defensive shift. Indeed, throughout the eighty plus minutes, both sides had clocked up dozens of thunderous tackles and in the last ten it was GHK’s turn to demonstrate their defensive capabilities. GHK closed out the game with no more scoring. GHK 13 Lenzie 5
In a game played on a wretched day with only two tries scored you could be forgiven for thinking that this might have been hard going for the supporters. Not at all. Both sides tried to play offensive rugby but it was not the conditions that frustrated them but rather the fearsome defence and tackling of the opposition. If we had a facility to measure the tackle count it would probably be off the scale. The levels of fitness, commitment and indeed skill displayed by the thirty or so players involved was impressive indeed. Admittedly, a few wrong options were taken from time to time, but there was a lot of good rugby played. Lenzie will be a hard nut to crack for any side, especially on their own park. GHK will be glad to have secured a win on a difficult day against very competitive opponents.
For GHK there were many contenders for man of the match. Callum Pender did well before retiring with a knock. The centres Fleming and Kinane stood up in defence and threatened in attack. The GHK forwards knew that they were in a battle and slugged it out with a physical Lenzie eight. Lucas put in an eighty minute shift in the sixty five minutes he was on the park. Jez Hanks and skipper Cammy McLay were always there. The return of Minnie Mitchell was a welcome sight. However, not for the first time, Mike Borthwick was immense in, well, everything. A complete performance from a man who sets himself very high standards. Well done Mikey. GHK man of the match – Mike Borthwick.
Next week – Helensburgh away 2.00 k.o