Friday Night Lights worked its magic again as what some suggested was the biggest crowd seen at Old Anniesland in recent years for any game assembled for the visit of leagues leaders Cartha Queens Park. With the presence of GHK’s charity partner Breast Cancer Care Scotland very much in evidence and some garishly pink trousers being sported by several amongst the crowd (guilty as charged!) the scene was set for this top of the table tussle.

GHK have come a long way in recent seasons (remember West One, anyone?) whilst Cartha have been consistently operating nearer the top of the Scottish rugby domestic tree so it should have been no surprise that the visitors brought a structure and intensity matched with a scrum that was to prove the dominant if not decisive factor in the match. GHK struggled throughout the eighty minutes to gain any meaningful possession from the set piece and made a higher than usual number of mistakes, brought on by the pressure that Cartha exerted at the breakdown.

GHK’s pink socks looked splendid , showing their support for their adopted charity, but it certainly seemed to make referee Les Fish’s job easier to spot any infringements by the home side, especially offside, as GHK incurred the wrath of the whistler on numerous occasions in the early stages of the game. There may be a good reason why the All Blacks aren’t the All Pinks!

Cartha took advantage of GHK’s indiscretions by kicking two penalties for a 6-0 lead after the first quarter and it was no surprise when a scrum penalty led to a line out catch and drive for the opening try to give the visitors a 13-0 lead at half time. Considering the amount of possession and territory that the league leaders had enjoyed it was no more that they deserved, particularly with GHK having to play 10 minutes without captain Hugh Parker as he spent time in the sin bin. To compound matters, Gregor Hollerin was also given an enforced rest on the stroke of half time as his clumsy mid air challenge was rightly dealt with by the issuing of another yellow card.

That GHK actually managed to ‘win’ the second half 11-5 was testament to their defensive efforts and spirit with bodies being laid on the line at every opportunity. Winning a little more of the ball and finding more favour with the referee helped too as they tried to claw their way back into the game. Danny Campbell registered the first points of the second half with a penalty after a brief spell of GHK pressure. The game continued to be a keenly contested affair, particularly at the breakdown where Cartha’s early dominance was now being challenged and both sides defending ferociously.

The next score, which was to prove crucial, was a mirror image of Cartha’s first as a scrum penalty was kicked to touch and the line out drive proved irresistible. Although successful with this attempt, Cartha’s kicker had a mixed night missing a couple of reasonably straightforward attempts, including one which came off a post almost leading to a try. The successful conversion took the visitors’ lead to 18-3 and they looked set to pull away in the last quarter.

GHK have, however, demonstrated their fitness in the closing stages of many games this season and again, they fought to the end conjuring a try from a line out move of their own with replacement hooker Gordi Reid popping up to narrow the gap to 8-18. GHK eschewed a number of potentially kickable penalties in the second half as they sought to play to their strengths by running the ball whenever possible. Eventually however, a chance was taken to narrow the gap to seven as Danny Campbell slotted one from the twenty two metre line.

The sizable travelling support who, until now, had been lending considerable vocal support to their charges, grew rather quieter as they saw their team stretched as GHK sought desperately to produce a potentially equalising score. It was, perhaps, that desperation that led to a couple of mistakes by the home team, allowing Cartha a chance to deny the home side a losing bonus point. The chance was missed, however, resulting in a final score of 18-11 to the league leaders who increased their lead over GHK to 4 points with the win.

There is no doubt that the better team on the night won, with the importance of set piece possession being aptly demonstrated. The GHK coaches and players will, undoubtedly, have learned much and will all being doing their utmost in the coming weeks to maintain their challenge at this higher level of rugby. Onwards to Kirkcaldy!

Honestly not sure about a man of the match, although all demonstrated admirable commitment, so let’s give it to the whole GHK club who came together to make The Big Pink, in support of Breast Cancer Care Scotland such a successful event. Well organised and led by captain Hugh Parker and with notable contributions form many of the second XV, prior to their own match against Cartha today, raffles, pies and bucket collections all contributed to a sizeable donation being handed over as well as important awareness raising of the work of the charity and the disease itself. (Even the programme entered into the spirit of the event!)

Editor’s Note: Apologies to all Twitter followers as there seemed to be a technological black hole at OA last night as both GHK and Cartha struggled to find any sort of connection with the internet.