GHK v Hamilton 31 January 2020

After last Saturday’s cup encounter at Laigh Bent, GHK and Hamilton hooked up again, this time in Glasgow on league business, with GHK wanting to do the double having edged out their hosts in their quarter final tie. Given that both of the previous matches between these sides have been entertaining and close fought battles, the game under the Friday night lights looked to be a good Six Nations starter for ten.

The GHK line up was pretty much ‘as you were’ but there was a suggestion that the Bulls had been strengthened by the return of a stag party squad who were away on a cultural visit last Saturday.

Despite a week’s worth of wet and windy weather, the pitch at OA looked to be in great condition. We were all set for a free flowing try fest between two teams who attack from all over the place and who know their way to the whitewash. However, a wet, windy night and two sides who had clearly brought their defensive ‘A’ game to the party suggested that there might not be a bucketful of tries on this occasion.

GHK started well defending the Pavilion end and playing in to the swirling wind.

In many respects the opening phases were reminiscent of the start of Saturday’s game when, after a tidy few minutes, GHK claimed a try. This time they had to make do with a Jack Cuthbert penalty as reward for the good start.

Both sides were pretty lively and looking to have a go. Ben Frame came close for GHK and it took some remarkable defensive scrambling by Blair Forsyth and Ben Hutton to deny Hamilton a score from a move that had started in their own twenty two. It was however the visitors who were next on the score board when skipper and stand off Owen McLeish slotted over a penalty to draw the teams level.

Despite appearing to be playing in to the wind, the GHK kicking from hand was good and frequently turned the Hamilton back line and made good ground. From one such kick, GHK found themselves mid way inside the Bulls’ twenty two. Hugh Parker claimed the throw in and the home pack rumbled over with Neil Callander touching down. The conditions did not seem to be affecting GHK that much at all.

Hamilton came back at the hosts and after prolonged spell of pressure the ball was moved right where there were more men in the visitors’ colours than there were defenders. At least the try was sufficiently far out to test the kicker when the conversion was due. This time Owen McLeish’s left boot pushed the ball just wide. All square at eight points all.

GHK did have a chance to regain the lead with a penalty in the last minute of the half. It rather looked as though the swirling wind might have disturbed Jack Cuthbert’s normally reliable rhythm and the attempt was unsuccessful. All square at the break.

Danny Campbell replaced Blair Forsyth for GHK as the second half got underway. It was Hamilton’s turn to ignore the conditions and, as so often happens, they looked more comfortable playing in to the wind. After several thrusts at the GHK line, referee David Young was playing advantage to the visitors. The try was denied, but when play was stopped the award of a penalty was accompanied by a yellow card for Neil Callander. The three points put Hamilton in the lead for the first time.

It was GHK’s turn to respond and there then followed a twenty minute spell when they scored three tries and probably took the game away from Hamilton. That man Hutton got two of the touch downs. The first came about after a spell of forward pressure close to the Bulls’ line. The groans that accompanied the kick over the line instantly changed to cheers as the left winger reacted quickest to dive on the ball. Another example, if one were needed, of how little we spectators know! His second try was a brilliant piece of finishing when, having broken free from the first up tackler, he rounded the full back and had the gas to make it to the line.

In between times, Danny Campbell used all his experience and power to crash over for a vital score at a time when Hamilton were no doubt looking to steady the ship. This was also the visitors’ turn to see yellow and as the teams lined up for the kick off, the replacement Bulls prop trudged over to start his ten minute break.

As much as GHK had impressed with their offensive prowess in that most purple of twenty minute patches, their defensive efforts throughout the evening had been of the highest order. As Hamilton looked to regain a foothold in the game they tried everything with backs running all sorts of angles and powerful forwards offloading and seeking to break through. The GHK defence was superb. One Kieran Boles tackle was very much out of the ‘stopping dead in his tracks’ category.

It was not entirely a rear guard scramble from GHK. There was some outstanding offensive defence from GHK with Niall Hall, Walter Gilbert and Kevin Btyce quite immense in driving and committing the opposition. The entire home pack and replacement Calum Brown had a great night. When it really mattered GHK had the edge in scrum, line out and in the loose.

There was one more flashing of yellow as Feargus Haston infringed close to the GHK line. Once again however, the seven remaining forwards did a remarkable job in maintaining their dominance. It did fall to the visitors to finally claim their second try with the last play of the match. The score brought them within seven points and meant that they did not leave OA empty handed.   Final score GHK 25 Hamilton Bulls 18

For those who like statistics, the aggregate score in the three games involving these sides this season is GHK 81 Hamilton 75. There is little between the teams, but the effect of this most recent result is probably to snuff out any realistic chance that Hamilton might have had of getting back in to National One for this season. That said, they are a side that is capable of beating any other in the league on their day. It is quite likely that they will have a significant impact on who goes where at the season’s end.

For GHK this was another hard fought victory. The fact that they were able to lift their level of performance from last week’s cup victory was probably the key to Friday’s success. The side was well led by Cammy Hughes who can now enjoy, along with the rest of the guys, a bit of a break as next weekend is blank in terns of fixtures. Kyle Henderson had a good night kicking from hand. Gavin McKirdy was very assured. The nine GHK forwards eventually got the better of a Hamilton pack that gave the impression of thinking that they might have had an edge, particularly in loose exchanges. Not so. The tackling and ball carrying statistics would be impressive. There was also a degree of patience and good game management when it came to assaults close to the Hamilton line.  Well done all.

A close call for the GHK Edinburgh Gin man of the match, but Ben Hutton just edged a couple of forward contenders. Well done, Ben.

In Saturday’s derby match the GHK 2nds made the short journey through the fence to Glasgow Accies and came back with a 36-24 win. Always a good win. Well done, guys.

Next game – another top end of the table clash – GHK v Peebles 15 February 2020 at OA. Kick off 3.00.