You are here: Match Reports / 1st XV / Kelso 9th September 2006
| Hills v Kelso 9th September 2006 “NO CALCUTTA CUP SPIN-OFF” HILLHEAD JORDANHILL 10pts KELSO 44pts Despite the inspirational presence of the Calcutta Cup in the Clubhouse, “Hills” did little of note in the game to disturb a hungrier Kelso side, which triumphed by four goals, two tries and two penalty goals to a penalty and a goal. The improvement in performance and enhanced team spirit evidenced the previous Saturday quickly evaporated in the warm afternoon sun, leaving the visitors to perform with comparative ease throughout. Kelso were quickly into their stride with half backs, Cowe and Ford, prominent in most of their attacking plays. Their game plan was basic, keeping the ball in front of their forwards, and relied on the “Hills” making mistakes, a ploy with which they seemed happy to oblige. Poor discipline at the breakdown allowed the impressive Ewen Ford, at stand off for the visitors, to kick two early penalty goals. Their lead was further extended following an ill fated attempt to break out from the back. Swift turnover ball took Kelso down to the “Hills” goal line where desperate defending resulted in a five yard scrum. Kelso wasted no time, however, in working a simple back row move leading to their first try, which Ford converted. “Hills” then had a reasonable spell of pressure and continuity but could only convert a penalty chance by Ross Curle, awarded at the breakdown in front of the visitors posts when Kelso infringed. This led to the first “yellow” of the afternoon for Kelso, but, ominously “Hills” could make nothing of their numerical advantage with Kelso once again displaying the virtues of the modern game in retaining the ball and constantly committing the opposition. A further try came for the visitors to leave the half time score at 18pts to 3 in their favour. Any alleged advantage which the Hughenden “slope” provides did not seem to come to the aid of the “Hills” after the break, when their forwards came second best in most areas of the play, except in the line out where David Fisken toiled manfully all afternoon. If anything, it was Kelso who upped the pace of their game with neat interplays between Ford and captain Utterson and excellent drives from no. 8, Scott Newlands, which had the home defence in some disarray. To the misery of the home crowd, Kelso added a further four tries with Ford converting three of them to end the game with a personal tally of 14pts. Deep into added time, “Hills” captain, Cammy Kerr, who had maintained his high work rate throughout the afternoon, scored the first league try of the season for his side when he was driven over at the left hand corner. Ross Curle added the conversion points only for match referee, Andy Healy, to blow for full time, much to the relief of the “Hills” players and Hughenden faithful, but to the delight of the Kelso team and their group of supporters. In a game which, although physical, did not go out of control four players received a “yellow card”, neatly two from each side. “Hills” 1st XV – Ross Curle, David Frame ( David Mitchell ), David Paterson ( David Frame ), Will Marshall, David Mitchell (Stuart Ross), Scott Weston, Jamie Hunter, Willie Brown, Stewart McMillan (Nico Nyemba), Joe Stafford ( Bobby Agnew ), Stuart Rose, David Fisken, Murray Allan ( Stuart Ross, Dougie Elder), Campbell Rae (Murray Allan), Cameron Kerr ( C ) Subs – All used Next Saturday (16th September) Hills host Selkirk at Hughenden. |
