Saturday 25th March 2023; Mayfield Playing Fields, Dundee
Scottish Cup Round 2 – Dundee Rugby 27 Glasgow Hawks RFC 33
On a cool dry afternoon with an easterly breeze Hawks were given an almighty scare when a lively and determined Dundee side pushed them to the absolute limited before they secured the victory with a try deep into injury time to take them into the quarter finals of the cup.
To a large extent they only had themselves to blame with a huge penalty count against them, two yellow cards and some sloppy handling especially in the latter stages of this entertaining but fragmented game. Dundee will have been distraught with the final outcome as the played with passion, good attacking play by their back division and a solid defence. To a certain extent their goal kicking let them down as the missed 3 penalty attemps in the second half.
It all started so differently for Hawks. Playing into the wind, a minute 45 seconds into the game and Hawks took control with 5 or 6 phases deep into the Dundee half and put their right winger, Ryan Flett over for their first try. No conversion
11 minutes later, after a period of sustained pressure, Dundee centre Stuart Kirk kicked a penalty to bring Dundee back into contention. Score 3 -5.
In the 15th minute a searing break by scrum half Eric Davey followed up by fullback Euan Muirhead led to a try, converted by Gavin Cruikshanks. Score 3-12 and Hawks seemed to be cruising to victory.
In the 26th minute, after further pressure, by Dundee, Hawks broke out and took the ball to the Dundee line but were penalised and Dundee took the ball down to the Hawks 22 line. Hawks had dominated the scrummaging in the first half but only got their first scrum penalty on the 31 st minute.
Following a succession of penalties, Dundee’s hooker, Adam Flynn forced his way over from a lineout near to the Hawks line converted by Stuart Kirk, Dundee 10 Hawks 12. A minute later the Dundee flanker, Sean Gauld saved a certain try with an inspired tackle on the Hawks winger, Ross Darroch
Ross Darroch was penalized for following through after a knock on, with a yellow card for colliding with his opposite number. From the yellow card incident, Dundee broke away and Hawks were penalized again at a break down and Stuart kicked his 2nd penalty to put Dundee into the lead for the first time. 13 -12 .
Right on half time Hawks were penalized inside the Dundee 22 From this award Dundee ran the length of the field and with excellent handling by backs and forward Sean Gauld dotted down for a try converted by Stuart Kirk converted it; score 20-12.
Half time
The penalty count against Hawks meant that they had struggled to get any continuity into their game and credit to Dundee they had taken their chanced and fronted up their opposition from a higher division and deserved their lead.
Second half –
Hawks had to get back the momentum quickly and they did this within the first two minutes with a catch and drive from a lineout with hooker Paul Cairncross getting the touch down and Gavin Cruikshanks converting to narrow the score to 20-19.
In the 62 minute after several phases Hawks scored in the corner, full back Euan Muirhead touching down for his second try of the match. Gavin Cruikshanks converted and the lead had changed hands again. Score 20-26.
In the 68th minutes Hawks gave away a penalty and Dundee ran several phases before replacement Conner Slader scored a try converted by Stuart Kirk restored the lead at27-26; a penalty for Dundee on 72 minutes was missed, after a second yellow card for Hawks for replacement prop, Kyle Shanahan for a late tackle.
It was now frantic time for Hawks and desperate defence from Dundee. Hawks didn’t help their cause with dropped passes and two penalties in short order, one for crossing the other for going to ground close to the line. However they had just enough power and guile before stand off Gavin Cruikshanks, in the 5th minute of injury time, broke through to touch down under the posts, converting the try himself.
In the end the Hawks team fielding 6 teenagers had just enough experience to get the job done. Dundee can be really proud of their performance even if there are some sore bodies by Sunday.
Hawks now go on to meet Heriot’s at Goldenacre next Saturday but their discipline will need to improve if they are to succeed.
Scorers
Dundee: Tries: Conner Slader, Sean Gauld and Adam Flynn Penalties: Stuart Kirk (3). Conversions: Stuart Kirk (2)
Hawks: Tries: Euan Muirhead (2). Ryan Flett, Gavin Cruikshanks, Paul Cairncross. Conversions: Gavin Cruikshanks (4)
Scoring sequence Dundee first;
0-5
3-5
3-10
3-12
8-12
10-12
13-12
18-12
20-12
20-17
20-19
20-26
25-26
27-26
27-31
27-33

In the 5th minute of injury time, Gavin Cruickshanks scored and converted - final score 27-33.
Hawks survived a very intense and courageous Dundee with a penalty count of 3:1 against Hawks an 2 yellow cards. Cup rugby at its best.