A fitting time of year to be visiting Millbrae, passing the Brig o’ Doon where Tam’s mare Maggie was left ‘scarce a stump’ of tail as she and her master fled the ‘hellish legion’ of witches in pursuit as their Hallowe’en gathering had been disturbed. The modern equivalent perhaps being the challenge of having your bus emerge unscathed from the narrow entrance with the helpfully parked cars.
Given that Ayr Women’s rugby team were holding a birthday (long) lunch at which we were made to feel very welcome the only comparison I could draw would be the enthusiasm with which the ladies entered into their celebrations. No ‘cutty sarks’ on view and most certainly no ‘wither’d beldams’ or ‘rigwoodie hags’. Fair to say, however, that there were signs that ‘loud resounded mirth and dancing’ would be abounding in due course.
‘But to our tale…’ or brief match report.
Prior to kick off the teams held a poignant minute’s silence to remember former GHK captain Pete Ritchie who died recently aged 39 after a short illness.
GHK have been making a bad habit of conceding an early score this season and so it was on Saturday when barely 4 minutes had passed when Ayr scored their first of the day. 5-0.
It took over 10 minutes for GHK to find their way into the hosts’ half of the pitch but they made good use of a scrum that, again, was on top for most of the game, with number 8 Hugh Parker picking up from the base and putting strong running centre Gus North through for the equalising score.
GHK were conceding a number of penalties and, although it wasn’t always clear what the offences were, it was perhaps surprising that no yellow card was shown. Indeed, despite what seemed like a much larger than usual number being awarded to both sides, it took referee Lee Fish until the 78th minute to hand out the first card of the day to an Ayr player.
Ayr took the lead from one of these penalties and consolidated it as the first quarter ended when GHK failed to kick clear and home scrum half Ross McCorkindale spotted space behind the first line of defence and had the skill and speed to kick ahead, gather and go over untouched. A fine solo effort that some might say was reminiscent of his dad Ewan’s efforts in a GHK side some years ago – except for the speed bit, of course! Conversion successful for 15-5
Penalties continued to flow for the home side and they eventually took advantage when clean line out ball led to a scoring break from their stand-off. Converted for 22-5. Despite some late pressure from the visitors there as no further scoring before the end of the half.
Half-time score Ayr 22 GHK 5
Although both sides tried to play rugby with ball in hand, the heavy Millbrae surface didn’t make that easy and Ayr’s kicking game was generally more purposeful than GHK’s and their attacks generally looked more threatening. It wasn’t until the 55th minute that the hosts scored their bonus point try to make it 29-5.
Decisions that mainly seemed to go against GHK in the first half, now were falling to the visitors and the direct approach of kicking to touch and using their strong line out drive proved successful as the game entered the final quarter with prop Paul Henderson going over for the first of a brace of almost identical scores. Unfortunately for GHK, the second of these scores was to arrive in the final couple of minutes shortly after the aforementioned yellow card and a previous drive being judged to have been held up over the line. Owen McLeish who had replaced former Ayr favourite Grant Anderson (given a warm reception from some of the home support!) converted from wide out to end the scoring.
Final score Ayr 29 GHK 17
Having ‘won’ the second half of their previous game with Melrose and ‘drawing’ this one, GHK may look to bringing their second half game from the start, Again, there was no lack of honest endeavour in the team from the starting fifteen and replacements and the Millbrae pitch with its glue-like qualities certainly didn’t favour the city side’s preferred running game.
A short break now until the next game for GHK which is an important home fixture against Aberdeen Grammar on 12th November.
And so it was back to Old Anniesland where we are reliably informed: ‘The mirth and fun grew fast and furious’.