The two sides promoted from National 3 met in what turned out to be an early season try fest at Burnbrae. The home side prevailed as a dozen tries were shared.

With no thought whatsoever for the long suffering touch judges, whose cumulative journeys from touchline to behind the posts for conversion duties must have been of Mo Farah training session dimensions, tries followed at regular intervals.

A first half scoring spree from the hosts appeared to have put a match winning gulf between them and the OA side. However, with some combative forward play allied to that well established pace out wide, GHK brought it back to a one score lead in favour of the red and yellow at 26-20 with barely five minutes of the second half gone. It looked like game on.

However, rather than capitalise on the momentum that seemed at that stage to be with them, GHK were unable to keep the pressure on their hosts. A couple of soft scores, a few injuries with all subs used and a general feeling of things not just quite clicking meant that West did indeed have their match winning lead well before the game closed out.

In the week when one of past president Woolard’s favourites returned to our screens, the Great British Bake Off, it did rather look as though West’s Victoria sponge was quite presentable whereas GHK’s soufflé needed a bit more time in the oven. The home XV looked a good bit more ready to be placed before the judges.

Final score West 48 GHK 32

Many thanks to President Sneddon and indeed all at Burnbrae for the warm welcome and a fine pre match lunch. The men from Milngavie were deserved winners on the day. Good luck in the Cup. The sides lock horns again in a league encounter on Friday 30 September at Old Anniesland. Make a date in your diary.

Meanwhile, the GHK Twos were kicking off season 2016/17 in much the same free scoring form as they did last year with a 63-37 victory against Cartha QP. A very decent showing and much encouragement for the league campaign soon to be upon us.

Both sides are on the road next week with the first xv at Ardrossan (for the first time in a while) and the Twos at Dumfries with whom a few feisty encounters were shared last season.