1st XV v GHA

BT National Cup 3rd Round
Glasgow Hawks 64 GHA RFC 5
A Powerful Hawks Performance Earns Quarter Final Tie Against Marr RFC

What a difference a week makes. A beautiful winter day at Old Anniesland, sunshine, no wind, a firm pitch and a dry ball were the ingredients that Hawks required and got for a sparkling performance by forwards and backs to defeat a GHA side that produced a gutsy performance but were outweighed, out thought and out run by their Premier Division opponents. The above ingredients were all missing last week at Boroughmuir.
Hawks played well and amply displayed the gulf between the middle of the Premier division and the middle of National 1.
GHA started brightly with some confident handling by their backs and forwards. This was rewarded in the 10th minute when Andrew Gilman, their scrum half, took a quick penalty and avoided the Hawks defence to run in unopposed from 40 metres. He proved to be a constant threat throughout the match.
This set back seemed to light the Hawks touch paper as they stepped up several gears and were never threatened again.
Two minutes later they were ahead when Patrick Kelly rounded off a good handling movement involving forwards and backs with a try between the posts. Pierre Mounal converted and Hawks lead 7-5.
From then on Hawks demonstrated how well they can handle when the conditions are good and tries came at regular intervals. The wide passing game used to get the ball wide worked particularly well and the visitors defence was constantly stretched.
In the 22nd minute Pierre Mounal added to his total with a penalty following a scrum infringement.
By this stage Hawks scrimmage was totally dominant resulting in a stream a penalty awards.
Hawks scored twice more before the interval with a second try by, centre, Patrick Kelly and one by scrum half Sean Yacoubian. Both converted by Pierre Mounal.
Half time Hawks 24 GHA 5.
In the second half Hawks were even more dominant and ran in a further six tries, one converted by Pierre Mounal and three converted by, stand off, Josh Henderson.
The scorers were Robert Beattie 2, older brother Kenny Beattie 1, Jack McFarlane 1, Stephen Leckie 1 and Sean Yacoubian 1. Final score 64-5.
It has to be said that both sides were missing a number of regulars but what was encouraging for Hawks was the performance of their players who were not regularly in their starting line out. Young Josh Henderson, at stand off, was outstanding and deservedly won the Man of the match award. Replacement scrum half Adam Lowry is a very good prospect and with Paddy Bowyer out with an injury Hawks are well covered in that position. Playing in only his second Hawks game of the season, after a long injury, the towering second row forward, Kiran McDonald made an impact when he came on as a replacement. It is clear to see why the former Glasgow Accies player has been picked up as an apprentice by Glasgow Warriors.
It was particularly encouraging to see Fin Gillies back to fitness.
Next Saturday Hawks are away to high flying Marr at Troon. There is certain to be a big Ayrshire support for this game so therefore it is essential that the Hawks support turn out for this key match.
There is no international next week so please put that date in your diary.