These two teams came into this fixture after impressive wins away to Kirkaldy and Newton Stewart.  Falkirk were hoping to back up their narrow win in the borders with another one at Old Anniesland while GHK welcomed back a number of players that had missed the rearranged game in Fife last Friday. The sun was out and there wasn’t a breath of wind; the stage was set for what was sure to be a cracking match between two entertaining sides.

There was barely a minute on the clock before GHK opened the scoring. Kerr Gossman received the ball on the halfway line with nothing on but a couple of his trademark steps left a few defenders grasping at thin air before a simple inside ball sent his brother Craig over under the sticks. The centre added the extras before many of the crowd had staggered over from the clubhouse to take their seats in the stands.

However, they would not have to wait long for another score. Falkirk’s full back intercepted a wayward pass inside GHK’s 22 and ran in unopposed. The conversion was good and we were soon level again.

Both sides were eager to attack from all areas which lead to the game becoming akin to a basketball match with countless breaks and some optional defence. One of those breaks was made by someone who would not look out of place in the NBA; Lewis Brock escaped the clutches of a couple of defenders like a giraffe being hunted on the Serengeti. He offloaded to Jack Somerville on the left touchline but this time the attack was quelled by a sturdy tackle into touch.

Falkirk responded with a couple of linebreaks of their own. The first from the impressive full back brought his side up to the 22. The ball was recycled to the winger who barged through a host of would-be tacklers before he was hauled down illegally on the GHK try-line. A penalty try was awarded and Fergus Wallace was banished to the sin bin.

Despite being a man down, it was GHK that scored next. A few pick and go’s from the pack before Tommy Spinks flopped over from close range showed that the west enders could mix it in the tight as well as the loose.

Falkirk responded immediately with a score in the corner after patient build up play from their pack. The touchline conversion was missed so the score remained 19-14 to the men fae Falkirk.

It would not be a GHK game at Old Anniesland without a try for Danny Campbell. The full back dotted down after more fine work from Gossman Junior down the right-hand touchline.

GHK were soon on the offensive again after a brave charge down from Martyn Whyte was chased by the front row bomb squad, resulting in a penalty to the home team. They opted to kick for the corner and were rewarded for their ambition with a try; Cian Smith the beneficiary at the back of a controlled driving maul.

Seven, yes seven, tries scored in half an hour and this writer (and Ronnie’s twitter scribe) was struggling to keep up with all the action. Luckily the scoring did start to slow down as half time approached, though the intensity did not. A thunderous hit from the lumberjack David Patterson got the Anniesland faithful off their feet. This was backed up by resilient midfield defence on the GHK line in the face of sustained pressure. However, the pressure was finally turned into points when Falkirk’s centre was brought down with another high tackle in front of the posts. The penalty was knocked over and Gossman Jr helped himself to some cheddar to bring the eventful first half to a close with the score 24-22 to GHK.

Falkirk started the second half brightly and would have had more joy were it not for a couple of outstanding turnovers from the limpet that is Ryan Moore. His stellar work at the breakdown provided the platform for the next GHK attack to be launched. A penalty was kicked to the corner and Campbell touched down after patient build up play from the forwards.

Falkirk regathered from the restart and immediately launched an assault on the GHK line. Some outstanding try-line defence was not enough to keep them out and the winger eventually crossed in the right-hand corner after some nice hands from their backline. The successful conversion brought Falkirk to within two points and ensured a nail-biting final quarter.

Falkirk were the team on the ascendancy and it was clear that the pressure was affecting GHK as they were marched back ten for chatting back to the referee on a number of occasions. They made their purple patch count when a penalty was nudged over to put them one point ahead with ten minutes to go.

The slender lead didn’t last long though as Gossman Snr shanked a penalty over in front of the posts… they all count! The centre’s next act proved his quality, though. Grant Anderson scythed through the midfield before offloading to Gossman who crashed over to the right of the posts for a timely score.

The clutch try came soon after. Gossman of the Kerr variety turned a good kick from Anderson into a great one as the industrious winger bundled Falkirk’s full back into touch right on the try line. The lineout was driven over and who better to pop up with the slam dunk score than fan’s favourite Paul Henderson? The conversion was missed so the game ended 44-32 to GHK.

Full time: GHK 44 – 32 Falkirk.

Both sides took advantage of the near perfect conditions on what was a gorrrgeously crisp Saturday afternoon. GHK fans are well used to their team attacking from all areas of the pitch but it was the away side’s endeavour that made this match such a close and exciting contest. There was very little to split the two teams and were it not for a few handling errors at key moments from Falkirk’s backline then the result may have been different. Nevertheless, GHK stuck in the fight despite being a man down for a quarter of the game. In the end, the sprinkling of top quality behind GHK’s scrum proved to be the difference.

And so to this week’s star performers. Moore produced an all-action display which included two turnovers and a forty-metre clearance kick. Spinks carried extremely well in the tight which was the perfect balance to Patterson’s defensive demolition job on the other flank. Both Gossman’s looked lively whenever they touched the ball and Campbell bagged another brace. However, this week’s Edinburgh Gin Man of the Match goes to Lewis Brock. The towering second row looked as comfortable in the middle of a driving maul as he did with the ball in one hand in the wide channels. Not one to shy away from his defensive work either, he sure does have a massive tackle.