It was a long fortnight for GHK supporters as they were starved of their weekly fix of live rugby because the away match against Stirling County was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions last weekend. However, the fortnight of rugby famine was ended with a feast of tries as GHK welcomed Melrose to Old Anniesland.

The two teams were not quite at opposite ends of the table going into the match but a quick glance through the match programme suggested that it may be a tough day at the office for the weegies. However, given these two sides shared almost 90 points between them in the reverse fixture, this was expected to be an entertaining battle.

The opening ten minutes did not disappoint. Both teams created good chances and Melrose spurned a glorious opportunity to open the scoring. Their scrum half made a break deep within GHK’s 22 but chose a long and loopy pass to the full back when it looked like he could have strolled in himself.

The home side had got away with it but the Melrose 15 made no mistake with his next chance to score. A scrum in the middle of GHK’s half laid the foundations for the ball to be spun left to the full back who hit the line at great pace, stepped a couple of defenders and slid over for a fine score. He then composed himself to knock over the easy extras to make the score 7-0.

Melrose began to pile on the pressure and the cracks in GHK’s defence were starting to show. Seven points became ten as the home side were penalised for a ruck infringement in front of their own posts. Another infringement led to a Babybel for the hosts’ talismanic leader. Ben claims he was Framed but the jury is out on that one.  The visitors kicked to the corner and barged their way over from the ensuing lineout maul.

Despite GHK’s best efforts to get a foothold in the game, Melrose soon added a third try. The move began with an overthrown lineout from GHK on the halfway line. Their scrum half reacted first, and box kicked down the right-hand touchline for the onrushing winger. The ball bounced kindly and he dived over spectacularly despite the attention of the cover defence.

Though the conversion was missed, things were starting to look ominous for the hosts. They needed to act fast if they wanted to salvage anything from the game. A promising attack down the left was brought to an abrupt halt by a knock-on from the impressive Melrose full back. It was adjudged to be intentional by the referee and so he dug into a tub of Philadelphia for ten minutes.

This was a huge opportunity for GHK to get some points on the board and they did not waste it. Paul Henderson added to his impressive try haul for the season at the second time of asking when he flopped over from close range at the back of a driving maul. Conversion missed but GHK were growing in confidence as the half time whistle went; 22-5 to the men in black and yellow.

GHK picked up where they left off and were first to score in the second half. Hugh “Darcy” Parker squeezed his way over after a spell of sustained pressure on the tryline. Grant Anderson added the extras and GHK were back in the game.

The momentum was all going one way at this stage and this was never more evident when supersub Jack Steele scythed his way over from close range. Nobody stops the bus from that far out. Anderson made no mistake with the conversion in front of the sticks and then levelled the scores shortly after with another gimme from ten metres out.

Melrose had been kept very quiet in the second half but after regathering the restart, they managed to slowly creep their way into GHK’s 22 with simple but effective phase play close to the ruck. This pressure soon turned into points when a lineout drive was pushed over and one of the pack dotted down.

After battling their way back into the game, GHK were determined to keep on fighting. An overthrown lineout, this time from the visitors, provided the type of open play situation that Craig Gossman thrives on. The wee full back skated through the broken defensive line only to be illegally brought down ten metres out. The resulting penalty was kicked to the corner and what followed next can only be described as unadulterated brutality. The ball was fizzed out to Anderson who only had one thought on his mind; give it to the aluminium bowling ball. Jack used his hips of Steele to flick off his opposite man and crash over under the posts for his second try of the game.

Cue pandemonium in the stands.

Conversion good.

Two points ahead.

Could GHK hold on?

Well… unfortunately not. Melrose showed excellent game management in the closing stages and when Jack thought he had made a legal Steele (last one I promise), the referee disagreed. The full back knocked over the penalty and Melrose were ahead.

There was still time for GHK to somehow make a dramatic comeback for the second time in the match but there was to be no further drama. In fact, Melrose had the final say with a try in the last play of the game. Thankfully for GHK it was unconverted, so they walked away with two points and not just one.

Full time: GHK 29 – 35 Melrose

This was the classic game of two halves. The first thirty-five minutes were largely dominated by Melrose until a deliberate knock on presented an opportunity for GHK to claw their way back into the match. The westenders must be given credit for first fighting their way back to level the scores and then somehow nudging themselves ahead with mere minutes left. The ‘finishers’ all had a big part to play. However, it was not to be; Melrose broke GHK hearts and in truth, fully deserved the win.

And so, to the stand-out individual performances. Dynamic hooker Angus Cooper was seriously impressive with ball in hand as he made countless carries into brick walls. Leo Findlay put himself about with no apparent concern for his own personal safety. All of the usual suspects in the backline showed their class. Grant Anderson produced a couple of nice assists and kicked well from hand and the tee. The literal impact off the bench from Jack Steele cannot be ignored. His two tries gave the team much needed momentum and his kicking game showed he is not just brawn. Kieran Boles also looked lively without the ball after he was introduced in the second half. But, the Man of the Match goes to a member of the back row that does all of dirty work so effectively. Mark Preston was a destroyer with and without the ball; allowing others to do the flashy stuff. Bravo Mark!