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NO CHANGE IN THE BASEMENT

HILLHEAD/JORDANHILL 10pts EDINBURGH ACCIES 12pts

Another Saturday, but again, sadly, another narrow defeat. This time the margin was
closer with visitors Edinburgh Accies winning by a goal and a try to a penalty goal and a
goal, but “Hills” managed on this occasion to add to their meagre bonus points tally.

After a minute’s silence to honour the recent passing of “Hills” supporter, Jimmy Neilson,
“Hills” started brightly by taking the play to their visitors who were defending the Gartnavel
end of the ground. But, try as they might either by the “pick and drive” or attacking by Will
Marshall through the centre the clear route to the try line did not come. It was Accies who
opened the scoring when, on one of their rare excursions to the Hughenden Road end of
the ground, they scored a try in the left hand corner, following a series of attacks up the
“Hills” right flank which, ultimately, left the “Hills” badly exposed out wide on their right.
The conversion was added from the acutest of angles and after 28 minutes Accies were
7pts up. But, again “Hills” took the play to their opposition and should have done better
when flanker Stuart Ross made a clean break around the front of a line out some 35
metres out. Unfortunately, this attack was again thwarted by good defence. Upping their
work rate particularly in their back five, Accies stormed back up the field to score a try this
time in the right hand corner, after a series of rolling maul finally broke the “Hills” defence.
This apart from crisper passing in their backs, was the major difference between the
sides. When the “Accies” entered the opposition “danger Zone”, they made the most of
their territorial advantage , while, ultimately, “Hills” frittered theirs away.

Only twelve points adrift at half time meant “Hills” were very much still in the game and the
promptings from Martin Yortson at stand off, who gave an assured, mature kicking and
handling performance throughout , and captain Cammy Kerr at No.8, leading by example,
continued to have Accies on the back foot. But, initially, all there was to show for it was a
Yorston penalty goal, despite a lot of “Hills” pressure. Inevitably, as the game entered its
final quarter, there was, from both sides, the usual frantic substitutions, both for injury and
tactical reasons. But, the game remained locked in a stalemate situation, despite the
lighter “Hills” pack recording three strikes against the head. Finally, however. a
speculative chip kick ahead from Jamie Hunter induced some panic in the Accies defence
to allow Yorston to nip through and touch down for a deserved try. Now playing at full
back, Martin Yorston converted to set up an exciting climax, but with the home support,
expecting some more injury time to be played, match referee, Rupert Henderson, blew for
full time to leave the home support and players rather disgruntled.

“Hills” coach, Aaron Collins, noted once again: “ I could not have asked for much more
from my players. I thought Andrew Eggleton showed with his clean breaks through the
opposition on three occasions that he is one of the best midfield backs in this Division.
Unfortunately, we must try harder to give him support. We now face two testing away
games at Kelso and Selkirk respectively, and we shall have to take something from them, if
we are to survive in this league.”

“Hills” 1st XV – David Frame ( Martin Yorston), David Mitchell ( Will Marshall ), Andrew
Eggleton, Will Marshall ( Andrew Cameron ), Allan Cahoon, Martin Yorston (Jamie Hunter
), Willie Brown (Douglas Walker), Ewen Weir, Nick McAuley, Martin Lane ( David Fisken ),
Chris Tulloch, Stuart Ross, Cammy Kerr ( C ), Joe Stafford. Subs All used

For the second successive Saturday, the 2nd XV game between the respective Clubs was
postponed due to ground conditions.