Gordonians v GHK Saturday 4th December 2021 Match Report
When in doubt, blame the internet. Or in this case at least ‘WWW’ – as in Work, Weddings and Wounds (or Winjuries!) as GHK were forced into making another raft of changes for the long trip north to Aberdeen.
GHK’s finest statisticians had their abacus out (there may have been more than one abacus involved but who knows the plural: abaci? abacuses?). Anyway, they had concluded that no fewer than 43 players had represented GHK’s 1st XV prior to Saturday’s match. That figure now stands at 46 as another three debutants entered the fray: Mark Preston in the starting line-up and Ross Gray and Euan McFadyen from the bench.
The weather forecast looked less than promising for the North East of Scotland on Saturday but the conditions tuned out to be some of the very worst that anyone in the travelling party could remember on a match day. Some of us could be forgiven for thinking that we had reached that point in the north where, at any moment, white walkers would appear from out of the deepening gloom.
The combination of a strong and blustery wind, combined with relentless rain and a form of half-light that grew less and less as the afternoon wore on eventually caused the referee, after consulting both captains, to bring the match to a premature end some 10 minutes early. One of those rare refereeing decisions with which no one was likely to disagree!
Both teams tried to play rugby but there was no doubt that the home side employed a more pragmatic game plan that the conditions necessitated. Their short pasting with forwards running onto the ball at pace often making dents and piercing holes in the GHK defence.
Ah early penalty for Gordonians was responded to by GHK through a well-worked line out catch and drive with, through the gloom Cian Smith we think touching down for what was to turn out to be the visitors only points of the day.
Gordonians had a good spell of pressure but, just as GHK seemed to have cleared the danger a couple of strong runs saw the home side retake the lead by half-time at 8-5.
Given that GHK had the elements in their favourite in the first half it looked as if it was going to be a hard second period and so it proved with Gordonians deservedly running in a further three tries before the referee called a halt to proceedings. Final score Gordonians 30 GHK 5.
A horrible day for rugby but still a good few positives to report.
Gordonians hospitality was first class. Their captain, Danny Usogo, played very well and spoke even better, displaying genuine warmth and speaking in such a complimentary fashion about his opponents. We are sure that his team will, indeed, move up the league with performances as determined and well-executed as Saturday’s was.
Each of the GHK debutants will remember their first game for the club and will be back for more, I’m sure.
Sometimes a reality check is needed in a season. GHK have, perhaps, been riding their luck in recent weeks. What’s the saying: ‘A set back is set up for a comeback.’
Roll on next week!
Final thank you: to the very kind lady, (sorry, should have asked her name) who supplied some very cold and wet traveling support and camp followers (thanks for maki ng the trip, folks) with delicious soup, sausage rolls and even mulled wine – superb!
GHK Team
1 Martin Whyte 2 Cian Smith 3 Ryan Moore 4 David Sim 5 Fergus Wallace 6 Tommy Spinks 7 Mark Preston 8 Hugh Parker
9 Charlie Campbell 10 Danny Campbell 11 Scott Davidson 12 Ben Frame (C)13 Blair Forsyth 14 Kerr Gossman 15 Ali Olivier
16 Euan McFadyen 17 Scott Bell 18 Ross Gray 19 Gavin McKirdy