GHK v Glasgow Accies BT Shield West Region – Semi final 20.12.14
Once again the Anniesland rivals served up a cracking encounter for the sizeable crowd that had preferred OA to Scotstoun. Eight tries (six for the hosts), a few yellow cards and the occasional outbreak of flailing handbags – nobody could complain that they were not entertained. It was indeed an action packed eighty minutes.
In what could well be some sort of record, a yellow card appeared within the first sixty seconds with what was judged to be a dangerous tackle seeing an Accie winger take a breakon the naughty step. Undaunted by this setback it was the visitors that were quickly in to their stride and they were rewarded for some positive play with a penalty that allowed them to open the scoring after six minutes. Back came GHK and after some powerful forward drives Mike Aird darted over for an unconverted try.
Restored to fifteen men, Accies continued to play their expansive game and at this stage in proceedings the visitors did look sharp and threatening with ball in hand. Their second try followed just short of the quarter hour and the conversion gave the new Anniesland men a 10-5 lead.
More yellow cards followed with Glasgow Accies number 12 and Ross McFarlane of GHK taking unwanted time out of the game. In between the issuing of these cards GHK drew level with a typical Gordi Reid try. Large maul close to try line – large maul gets even closer to try line – large maul crosses try line – Gordi Reid emerges with ball and gats pat on head and is thereby deemed to have scored. Ten points apiece.
Accies edged ahead again with their second try of the day and it did look as though that would see them in to the break with a five point lead. However, with just about the last play of the half, Scott Eadie, who had taken the place of Calum Pender, powered over on the left for a try that Mike Martin converted. Half time , GHK 17 Glasgow Accies 15.
Playing towards the pavilion GHK looked to extend their slim lead, but the first score of the half was a very fine forty metrepenalty strike from the visitors giving them the narrowest of advantages. With Andy McCulloch and Jamie McLean on for the hosts, the pace of the game, if anything increased. GHK started to dominate possession in scrum and line out and even at the breakdown the game appeared to be swinging the way of the home side. A Mike Martin penalty restored the hosts’ lead.
With half an hour to go the supporters no doubt anticipated more of the same. However, the flow of the match changed completely with the GHK pack totally dominating possession and territory with the boots of Messrs Martin and Airdkeeping Accies playing the game in areas of the field where they did not want to be. The home side were cranking up the pressure and a try from Ross McFarlane, converted by Mike Martin stretched the lead. Another penalty from the man Martin made it 30-18 with the last quarter beckoning.
The anticipated Accies’ rally never materialised. GHK had a grip on the game and were not for letting go. Indeed, with the visitors needing to secure some possession to get back in to the contest, the home pack moved in to a higher gear and helped themselves to ball that the visitors would have expected to secure. There was no let up for the New Anniesland XV. A quick tap from a penalty, that everyone watching assumed would result in a kick at goal, saw Scott Eadie go over for his second score of the day. Haydn Parkescompleted the scoring with another try after a sweeping move that stretched the tiring Accies line to breaking point.
Final score GHK 40 Glasgow Accies 18
With half an hour to go such a score line seemed improbable, but such was the home side’s domination of pretty well every phase of play in that period, a try count of six to two was a fair reflection of just how GHK took control and the threat they carried going forward. It was a very fine performance by GHK. Admittedly there were spells in the first half when Accies looked the more likely, but the hosts dug in laid the foundations for that second half effort.
The game was played in the spirit that you would expect of two old rivals in a semi final tie – highly competitive and hard fought. Yes there were a couple of outbreaks of slapping etc but the referee dealt with these in a sensible manner and the players got on with it. There did not appear to be any running feuds.
Very difficult to pick a man of the match from the GHK squad. The back three of Parkes, Davidson and replacement Eadie all did more than their bit in try scoring and the gritty stuff. Centres Hoffmann and Brown, combined age of quite a lot, were rock solid and as the game wore on started to ask a number of questions of a tiring defence. Halfbacks Martin and Aird were at the centre of most of what went really well for GHK, knowing when to send up a booming kick and when to set the line moving. They helped create the momentum that won the game for the hosts.
The forwards – where do I start? Accies might have had a slight edge in the early scrums but that did not last and the front five deserve immense credit for sticking to it and not only achieving parity but ultimately dominating the set plays. In the loose McPhee, Reid, McFarlane and McCulloch were dynamic, persistent and positive. The GHK lineout was solid and, like the scrums, as the game wore on, they helped themselves to their visitors’ ball. As usual Hurn and Hanks were all over the place making hard yards and crunching tackles.
The back row ensemble of skipper Borthwick, Dave Mitchell, Hugh Parker and Jamie McLean put in enough work to win three games. Indeed, as mentioned before, the introduction of Jamie McLean and Andy McCulloch seemed, if anything, to intensify the pace at which GHK were operating and helped take the game away from Accies.
It is an impossible call, but the man of the match goes to captain Mike Borthwick. Great leadership, decision making and his usual never take a backward step performance. Well done Michael. But thanks to the entire GHK squad and coaches for the most welcome of early Christmas gifts.
This result sees GHK contest the West Region Shield final against Oban Lorne on February 7th. Oban defeated the Carrick juggernaut so they will indeed be something to contend with. Another big day at OA awaits.