We’re spoiling you this week as we have not one but two reports on Saturday’s epic encounter at Old Anniesland as were treated to a try fest by two sides who were determined to play fine, attacking rugby. ! It was such a compelling match that it was worthy of having two of GHK’s resident wordsmiths having their say on proceedings. Thanks to both scribes for their typically excellent work.
GHK v Falkirk 27 11 2021
After last Friday’s dramatic encounter away to Kirkcaldy, GHK might have hoped for a slightly more comfortable time of it with a home fixture against Falkirk who occupied a mid table position in Tennent’s National League Division 2. In the event, GHK President Rowand’s hint of caution in his programme notes was very much on the mark. The team from the town that is home to the Alexander’s bus factory made it clear early on that, despite conceding an early score, they were most certainly not for parking the bus in front of their table topping opponents. Indeed, right to the end of a highly entertaining game, Falkirk stood toe to toe with their hosts and the final outcome was really only decided with a few minutes remaining.
On a beautiful but bitterly cold day, you know the sort when you feel sorry for wingers, GHK kicked off and Craig Gossman was in under the sticks before the match reporter had found his back up pencil. An interception allowed Falkirk to draw level almost immediately. Two converted tries in the first three minutes.
The icy gale was supporting the visitors as they attacked the pavilion end. Having got in to a good attacking position, a rumble from a scrum was adjudged to have been terminated illegally resulting in a penalty try for Falkirk and a yellow card for Fergus Wallace.
The fourteen responded well and after a period of pressure it was the turn of Tommy Spinks to cross the white line with the aid of his forward colleagues. Thirteen minutes gone, fourteen points a piece. If this rate of scoring continued the electric scoreboard might overheat.
Falkirk nudged ahead with another cleverly worked try emanating from a well drilled line out drive. GHK’s tit for tat response was a trade mark Danny Campbell score. Restored to fifteen, though not for long, GHK took the lead from a Cian Smith touchdown again after a spell of concerted pressure.
As the first half moved in to the closing stages, the GHK close quarter defence was seriously challenged. The fact that the visitors were frustrated in their try scoring attempts was testament to some ferocious and committed tackling. One intervention by Craig Gossman saved a certain score. However, Kerr Gossman fell foul of referee Cameron’s judgement and saw yellow for his part in the defensive efforts. Three points from the resulting penalty brought the deficit to two. The last action of the half saw Falkirk miss another penalty leaving GHK to go in at the break with the score at 24-22 in their favour.
Early second half changes saw Paul Henderson and Ben Frame get on for a decent chunk of game time. GHK seemed to have a bit of an edge early in the second period and when Danny Campbell claimed his second try of the afternoon a few of us might have thought that it was nearly job done. How wrong we were.
Restarts in to the wind had been a source of trouble for the receiving side and attractive pickings for the kick off chasers all afternoon. Falkirk managed to dent the GHK momentum from a few restarts and, having done so again early in the second period, embarked on a passage of play that got them in to the danger area. From the resulting line out the GHK line was breached and the home advantage was clawed back to two points. Shortly thereafter Falkirk sneaked ahead with a straightforward penalty after another GHK breakdown infringement. 32-31 in favour of the blue hoops.
Five minutes later it was Falkirk’s turn to be pinged by the referee and Craig Gossman added the three points from the ‘wrong’ side for a right footed kicker.
As the game moved in to the last ten minutes, GHK capitalised on further penalty infringements firstly by Grant Anderson finding a handsome touch inside the visitors’ twenty two. A clean catch and drive unsettled the defence. Captain Anderson then broke the line and offloaded to Craig Gossman on his shoulder who crossed for his second touch down of the day. The conversion drifted wide leaving the advantage at seven points.
GHK secured good possession from this restart and the boot of Grant Anderson kept the bulk of play in the latter stages a fair distance from the GHK red zone. The scoring concluded when, after another fine positional kick by the GHK number ten, a catch and powerful drive saw Paul Henderson take possession of the ball and he was not for parting with it until he had grounded it safely over the Falkirk line. All done.
Final score GHK 44 Falkirk 32
Both sets of players deserve great credit for serving up such an entertaining, high scoring game on a day when, despite the bright sunshine and excellent underfoot conditions, the wind chill factor cut right through you. It would have to be accepted that both sides’ defences have probably had better days but that certainly made for a try fest and a game that had an uncertain outcome right to the final few plays. Thanks to Falkirk for a fine game. Good luck for the rest of the season. The return fixture on 9 April (Bermuda shorts optional) should be worth seeing.
That’s the first half of the season concluded with all sides having managed to fulfil all of their fixtures. There was a time back in July/August when that seemed highly unlikely with the impact of you know what. All digits crossed that the remainder of the season can be navigated without too many alarms.
Back to the game. A number of particularly hard workers in the GHK squad. The Gossmans were very lively and caused alarm for the opposition whenever they were in possession. Grant Anderson was influential in key moments in that second period. It was great to see Ben Frame back in action and providing the link between forwards and backs. Up front, Lewis Brock, Hugh Parker, and Tommy Spinks led from the front. Ryan Moore had a fine game, though his clearance kick from a Falkirk restart could quite possibly be fine material. And him a prop too.
The GHK Edinburgh Gin man of the match award went to Lewis Brock – cheers! Congratulations sir!
Next week away to Gordonians.
Next home game, December 11th at home to Hamilton k o 3.00