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Scottie signs off
Hugh Barrow24 Apr 2016 - 19:21
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GHK final match report of season
Haddington v GHKRFC 23 April 2016
‘Time gentlemen please’ was called on league season 2015/16 for GHK with a visit to Haddington.
Pre-match misfortune was visited upon the OA xv as Cammy Brown pulled a hamstring in the warm up. Nick Hurn moved from the bench to centre whilst a search party was dispatched for Scott Davidson. He was found in (a) an art gallery or (b) a bar? You have thirty seconds to decide.
The champions started in fine tempo and gained ground with every piece of possession. By the ten minute mark two Danny Campbell tries, the first from quality Darcy line out ball and the second courtesy of some quick scrum half thinking after classic steady scrum possession had presented the platform.
The curse of the hamstring struck GHK again with less than quarter of the game gone as the ever impressive Lewis Brock’s day was brought to a premature end. James Cuthbertson, who has had a cracking season for the mighty twos, made his debut and the OA pack reshuffled.
Haddington possession got them in to some threatening positions and with very lively half backs coming more in to the game and a full back who looked in the mood they came close to breaching the Glasgow defence. GHK defended well and looked to have weathered the home attacks. Danny Campbell nearly completed a first half hat trick of tries but was held up short.
With about five minutes of the half remaining, a Haddington scrum in their own half did not appear to present too much of a threat. However, a combination of GHK getting their defensive alignment wrong and the Haddington full back confirming his pace saw the number fifteen scorch over in some style. The disappointment for the visitors was that they don’t tend to give up scores that easily, but it was a reminder of what the home backs could do.
The GHK response was instant and when good ball was secured in home territory a series of powerful combinations saw Jez Hanks power over and with DC adding the extras the tally at the break was Haddington 7 GHK 19.
GHK started the second half well but when they ran the ball perhaps once too often rather than hoof it up and use the contours of the pitch to put Haddington deep in their own half, it allowed the hosts to set up camp in GHK territory. The discipline and drive of the home pack saw them rumble over for an important early score.
This was a good period for the home xv. The pack was producing a lot of good ball and the aforementioned full back had been joined by a back line that was looking increasingly confident. Added to that, the Haddington number nine was sparking a lot of good stuff and his kicking for position was very effective. Having said all that, the GHK tackling was of a high order with the new centre combination of Hoffmann and Hurn being particularly secure.
The home hooker had been yellow carded in the latter stages of the first half. With fifteen minutes of the game remaining, that man Hurn was adjudged to have sinned sufficiently seriously to have the yellow flashed in his direction. A Haddington try followed quickly to draw the scores level at nineteen all.
There followed a superb response by the fourteen men. They kept Haddington in their own half and when they secured possession they looked more threatening than they had done in any period of the second half thus far. A frantic clearing hack and chase by the home xv was dealt with by Rory Taylor. The retreating GHK defenders appeared to have supported their team mate in securing ball and defending their line. However, GHK were adjudged to have held on when, in fairness they did seem to have numbers back to do the needful and control possession legitimately. Anyway, ref’s call and GHK were now three down.
Moments later it got worse for GHK as the Haddington right wing demonstrated that it was not only the full back who could turn on the gas. From way out he progressed rapidly up the right wing. With the covering defence homing in, there was an almighty collision in the right corner with corner post, flags, players and the kitchen sink flying everywhere. However, the referee was in no doubt that a try had been scored. Twenty second half points without reply for the hosts.
There followed a true champions reply with an intense period of battering from GHK on the Haddington door. A well crafted Rory Taylor try cut the lead to three points. From the restart, GHK worked their way back in to the twenty two and recommenced the onslaught. The Haddington defence was outstanding. No tackle was shirked. Having said that, several awards of penalties and playing of advantages in a two or three minute period evidenced that it was utterly one way traffic. A penalty in front of the posts would have secured an honourable draw but GHK wanted that win. The Dannies, Hoffmann and Campbell, were within inches of getting there as were props McCulloch and Hollerin. Alex McGuire crammed three rumbustious carries in to a couple of minutes. The line was in sight and oh so close. It was last play time and when the referee spotted a knock on from the visitors that was that. Final score Haddington 27 GHK 24
Well done Haddington – quite possibly edged it with a pretty dominant performance for large parts of the second half. Show that form next season and you’ll be in the mix. GHK’s second league defeat of a magnificent season serves as a wee reminder of what is required to succeed in any fixture at this level. There were a few contributory factors not the least of which was the outbreak of pinging hamstrings that befell the visitors. However, there was still a lot of quality and decent stuff from GHK and on another day they could well have prevailed in this game.
The post match address by coach Mitchell was very measured and positive and struck the right note for the day and for the season. This is a sensible and conscientious group that takes things onboard. As a certain birthday boy, Shakespeare, William says ‘no legacy is so rich as honesty’ and this is an honest bunch that learns, takes things forward and progresses.
GHK player of the day – trainee centre Nick Hurn – versatile or what?
Congrats also to James Cuthbertson for a fine performance and to Alex McGuire who shows great promise.
Finally, if Saturday was indeed Scott Inglis’ last formal day ‘on call’, a declaration of gratitude from all at GHK for years of support, knowledge and encouragement to legions of players is required. Scottie we salute you. The personal thanks from many individual players spoke volumes.
PS W Shakespeare appears courtesy of O-grade English(awarded on appeal) 1972 JCS
‘Time gentlemen please’ was called on league season 2015/16 for GHK with a visit to Haddington.
Pre-match misfortune was visited upon the OA xv as Cammy Brown pulled a hamstring in the warm up. Nick Hurn moved from the bench to centre whilst a search party was dispatched for Scott Davidson. He was found in (a) an art gallery or (b) a bar? You have thirty seconds to decide.
The champions started in fine tempo and gained ground with every piece of possession. By the ten minute mark two Danny Campbell tries, the first from quality Darcy line out ball and the second courtesy of some quick scrum half thinking after classic steady scrum possession had presented the platform.
The curse of the hamstring struck GHK again with less than quarter of the game gone as the ever impressive Lewis Brock’s day was brought to a premature end. James Cuthbertson, who has had a cracking season for the mighty twos, made his debut and the OA pack reshuffled.
Haddington possession got them in to some threatening positions and with very lively half backs coming more in to the game and a full back who looked in the mood they came close to breaching the Glasgow defence. GHK defended well and looked to have weathered the home attacks. Danny Campbell nearly completed a first half hat trick of tries but was held up short.
With about five minutes of the half remaining, a Haddington scrum in their own half did not appear to present too much of a threat. However, a combination of GHK getting their defensive alignment wrong and the Haddington full back confirming his pace saw the number fifteen scorch over in some style. The disappointment for the visitors was that they don’t tend to give up scores that easily, but it was a reminder of what the home backs could do.
The GHK response was instant and when good ball was secured in home territory a series of powerful combinations saw Jez Hanks power over and with DC adding the extras the tally at the break was Haddington 7 GHK 19.
GHK started the second half well but when they ran the ball perhaps once too often rather than hoof it up and use the contours of the pitch to put Haddington deep in their own half, it allowed the hosts to set up camp in GHK territory. The discipline and drive of the home pack saw them rumble over for an important early score.
This was a good period for the home xv. The pack was producing a lot of good ball and the aforementioned full back had been joined by a back line that was looking increasingly confident. Added to that, the Haddington number nine was sparking a lot of good stuff and his kicking for position was very effective. Having said all that, the GHK tackling was of a high order with the new centre combination of Hoffmann and Hurn being particularly secure.
The home hooker had been yellow carded in the latter stages of the first half. With fifteen minutes of the game remaining, that man Hurn was adjudged to have sinned sufficiently seriously to have the yellow flashed in his direction. A Haddington try followed quickly to draw the scores level at nineteen all.
There followed a superb response by the fourteen men. They kept Haddington in their own half and when they secured possession they looked more threatening than they had done in any period of the second half thus far. A frantic clearing hack and chase by the home xv was dealt with by Rory Taylor. The retreating GHK defenders appeared to have supported their team mate in securing ball and defending their line. However, GHK were adjudged to have held on when, in fairness they did seem to have numbers back to do the needful and control possession legitimately. Anyway, ref’s call and GHK were now three down.
Moments later it got worse for GHK as the Haddington right wing demonstrated that it was not only the full back who could turn on the gas. From way out he progressed rapidly up the right wing. With the covering defence homing in, there was an almighty collision in the right corner with corner post, flags, players and the kitchen sink flying everywhere. However, the referee was in no doubt that a try had been scored. Twenty second half points without reply for the hosts.
There followed a true champions reply with an intense period of battering from GHK on the Haddington door. A well crafted Rory Taylor try cut the lead to three points. From the restart, GHK worked their way back in to the twenty two and recommenced the onslaught. The Haddington defence was outstanding. No tackle was shirked. Having said that, several awards of penalties and playing of advantages in a two or three minute period evidenced that it was utterly one way traffic. A penalty in front of the posts would have secured an honourable draw but GHK wanted that win. The Dannies, Hoffmann and Campbell, were within inches of getting there as were props McCulloch and Hollerin. Alex McGuire crammed three rumbustious carries in to a couple of minutes. The line was in sight and oh so close. It was last play time and when the referee spotted a knock on from the visitors that was that. Final score Haddington 27 GHK 24
Well done Haddington – quite possibly edged it with a pretty dominant performance for large parts of the second half. Show that form next season and you’ll be in the mix. GHK’s second league defeat of a magnificent season serves as a wee reminder of what is required to succeed in any fixture at this level. There were a few contributory factors not the least of which was the outbreak of pinging hamstrings that befell the visitors. However, there was still a lot of quality and decent stuff from GHK and on another day they could well have prevailed in this game.
The post match address by coach Mitchell was very measured and positive and struck the right note for the day and for the season. This is a sensible and conscientious group that takes things onboard. As a certain birthday boy, Shakespeare, William says ‘no legacy is so rich as honesty’ and this is an honest bunch that learns, takes things forward and progresses.
GHK player of the day – trainee centre Nick Hurn – versatile or what?
Congrats also to James Cuthbertson for a fine performance and to Alex McGuire who shows great promise.
Finally, if Saturday was indeed Scott Inglis’ last formal day ‘on call’, a declaration of gratitude from all at GHK for years of support, knowledge and encouragement to legions of players is required. Scottie we salute you. The personal thanks from many individual players spoke volumes.
PS W Shakespeare appears courtesy of O-grade English(awarded on appeal) 1972 JCS
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