St Boswells score a try in the BT Shield finalThe BT Shield was a tale of two halves, yet St Boswells’ onslaught in the first period proved too great for their GHK opposition to overcome in the second half, with the match finishing 27-19.

The Border outfit crossed the line four times, scoring 24 points, in the first 40 minutes, with their gritty defence ensuring that their opposition were unable to make a mark on the scoreboard.

Not to be written off, GHK displayed a real sense of determination to contend the BT Shield final in-front of a healthy BT Murrayfield, yet their second-half haul of 19 points wasn’t enough to overcome St Boswells who held out for the victory.

St Boswells’ player-coach, David Cassidy, said: “We never stopped believing in ourselves.

“To be fair to GHK, they were a great side and showed their class to stage the comeback, but our forwards were outstanding and never stopped battling.

The experience to play here [BT Murrayfield] was something every single one of the boys loved – it’s an amazing place, and it’s some size of pitch.

“I can’t begin to explain how proud I am of the boys – we’re absolutely delighted to have come here and got the victory.”

It took only three minutes for St Boswells to record their first points of the day, as hooker Gary Douglas crashed over from short range, following scintillating individual breaks from his side’s wingers, Andrew Haig and John Lebron.

Stand-off, Dean McCracken’s, successful conversion, following his missed penalty attempt in the opening minute of the tie, extended his side’s lead. 0-7

GHK produced their finest attack from the subsequent kick-off, with only a fine tap tackle on wing Haydn Parkes putting an end to the Glasgow side’s threat.

A 20 minute drought in the scoring was ended as Haig picked off the pass of GHK’s full-back Scott Robertson, to cruise in from 30 metres, which gave his side a 12 point cushion. 0-12

St Boswells asserted their control of the game further, crossing the whitewash another two times before the half-time break.

The first came from stand-off McCracken, who, following a well-won turnover from his gritty forward pack, flew down the blindside to step the opposition full-back and touch-down for the try. 0-17

McCracken was again involved in the final try of the half. Following another Haig interception, the ball found the stand-off who scorched up the wing, before giving a lovely off-load to full-back Graham Lothian, to cross the whitewash and give his side a 24-0 lead as the team’s went down the tunnel for half-time.

Half-time: GHK 0-24 St Boswells

It took 46 minutes for GHK to score their first try, and points of the match, yet they did so in an entertaining manner. Following a steady build-up, centre Mike Martin threw a sweetly timed based to gasman, wing, Marc Taylor, who finished in the corner.

The conversion from full-back Scott Robertson closed the gap to 7-24.

Hard fought comeback
Brimming with confidence, the Glasgow outfit grabbed another to bring themselves well and truly back into the game.

Under the cosh, GHK turned the ball over, with the ball finding centre Mike Martin, who displayed courage to attack from his own 22 metre line. He managed to find the electric Parkes, who set the place alight with a 70 metre run down the wing to score. 12-24

A 60th minute penalty from McCracken was not enough to dampen the attacking flair and fighting spirit of GHK. 12-27

A lovely half-break from the Glasgow side’s scrum-half Mike Aird, in the 68th minute, created the platform for back-row Hugh Parker, to scamper in under the posts. Robertson knocked over the easy conversion to make for an intense finale, the score at 27-19 in favour of the Border side.

However, there wasn’t enough in the GHK to overcome their stuffy opposition, with the game finishing without another further score.

Full-time: GHK19-27 St Boswells

Player of the match: Andrew Haigh (St Boswells)

Referee: Graeme Ormiston