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| “HILLS” LOSE TO CITY RIVALS Hillhead Jordanhill 17pts Cartha QP 25pts In a game strewn with far too many errors, Cartha QP took the chances that came their way to win this derby match by one goal, three tries and one penalty goal to two goals ( one being a penalty try ) and a penalty goal. “Hills” best periods were the second and third quarters when they looked as if they might wrest the initiative away from the visitors, but it was not to be; and in the end “Hills” could not even secure a consolation bonus point. The opening few minutes in the game found the “Hills” kicking to the Hughenden Road end of the ground, and play was evenly contested. “Hills” had to look lively, however, as McCrossan tested the blind side of the “Hills” defence. While the first attack was repulsed, the warning was not heeded with a quick thrust by the scrum half being finished off by Smith. Once again, “Hills” had conceded an early score, but to their credit they fought back and were awarded a penalty some 35 metres out, but Kern Boyd snatched at his goal kick. Some five minutes later, he was successful from a similar range to open the scoring for the “Hills”. This score gave the side some encouragement and they tried to move the ball wide with some considerable success when a line break by full back Andrew Eggleton was taken on by outside centre, David Paterson, who linked well with flying winger, Donald Robertson, and took his chance to score a fine try in the right hand corner. Kern Boyd converted to take the “Hills” 10 pts to 5 ahead. Buoyed by their success, “Hills” started to be more adventurous but unfortunately a spilled pass on “Hills” 10 metre line allowed Cartha to hack through, and they won the chase for touchdown to score a converted try. This saw the momentum move slightly to the visitors, and they finished the half 15pts to 10 ahead, by converting a penalty for a high tackle. The early part of the second half saw “Hills” attacking in the visitors half. Nothing could be made of a tight head strike, however, with the Cartha midfield defence resolute. “Hills” were awarded a kickable penalty, but again Kern Boyd seemed to hurry his kick and failed to make good contact. The miss seemed to spark Cartha, who then advanced into the “Hills” half and took advantage of some woeful home defence to score their third try by running through virtually non-existent cover. This put “Hills” ten points behind, and the home crowd, although thinly scattered along the touch lines, began to encourage their team to up the play. Certainly, there was more evidence of commitment but the next significant event was an injury to the Cartha QP talisman, Robert Harvey, who seemed to sustain a bad neck injury. Fortunately, the stretcher was not required, but the Cartha QP prop had to leave the field. Worse was to follow for the visitors when their tight head prop was carded for an offside offence at a defensive ruck. At the ensuing scrum, the reduced Cartha QP pack conceded a penalty try, which was easily goaled by Boyd. “Hills” now sensed that against 14 men they might yet snatch something from the game, but it was the opposition who scored next, taking advantage of a collective defensive “howler” to touch down and stretch their lead to 8pts. To their credit, “Hills” did attack the Cartha QP line, and should have done better when Robertson burst through to just a few metres short of the line only for the support play to be weak at the breakdown. Unfortunately, captain Cammy Kerr was sin binned following a ruck offence, but even with 14 men, “Hills” continued to attack. Marty Lane led a charge down the stand side of the ground, but desperate defence from Cartha repelled the attack. Finally, some poor ruck play allowed Cartha to recover the ball and let them play down the game on the clubhouse side of the ground. For the fifth consecutive home game of the Season, the “Hills” had showed that they could play, but they could not maintain any sort of continuity against the visitors who were less profligate than the “Hills” were in their use of the ball. “Hills” assistant coach, Grant Sweenie noted : “ Our scrum and line out were both good, but we did not play with enough confidence on the ball to make a win from the game. We shall continue training hard and working on our drills. Our first win will not be far away.” Hills 1st XV – Andrew Eggleton ( David Mitchell ) , Donald Robertson , David Paterson ( Andrew Leslie, Andrew Eggleton ) , Will Marshall, David Mitchell, Kern Boyd , Andrew Gilman, Gavin Blackburn (Douglas Walker ) , Ewen Weir , Nick McAulay , Martin Lane ( Ally Moffat ) , Stuart Rose ( Stuart Todd ) , Stuart Ross, Cammy Kerr ( C ) and Douglas Crichton . Subs. All used |
