Click here for printable version of the report
Click here for the Scotsman's view of the game
Click here for photos from the game. Thanks to Gordon Honeyman of Falkirk RFC for the link
Click here for the Scotsman's view of the game
Click here for photos from the game. Thanks to Gordon Honeyman of Falkirk RFC for the link
| “HILLS” ECLIPSED AT SUNNYSIDE Falkirk 17pts Hillhead/Jordanhill 12pts In a very well contested 4th round SHE Cup game at Sunnyside, Falkirk’s home ground, “Hills”, despite opening the scoring, lost the tie by two goals and a penalty goal to a goal and a try. Although Falkirk are some two divisions below “Hills” in the leagues, their play revealed why they have had such a successful season in National League Division 1. They were able to mix up their approach, always relying on the tactical nous of Mark McKenzie at stand–off either to scent an opening and move the ball wide, or to attack through channels close to his forwards. Yet “Hills”, after weathering a tough opening five minutes when it looked like Falkirk might run away with it, scored a fine forward try through a rolling maul which the home team could not defend. The score was credited to flanker, Stuart Rose, but instead of settling the “Hills”, it, instead, encouraged Falkirk to raise their game again. For the rest of the first half, “Hills” struggled to contain their fast, direct approach, and, on more than one occasion, their last line of defence, Angus Twaddle, saved his side with his copybook tackling. The visitors were seen only in bursts out of their own half with Ally Jamieson and Duncan McCartney prominent, and the half time whistle came as a relief with the score only 17pts to 5 in Falkirk’s favour. With the low winter sun now at their backs and with the benefit of what breeze there was, “Hills” opened the second half confidently, but it was hard going most of the period. Stewart McMillan stole two of the home team’s put-ins to add to his first half tight head strike to confirm the solidity of the “Hills” scrummaging, but there was occasional sloppy work on the touchline which undid two good attacking positions in the Falkirk danger area. But the game statistics of the second half showed that although Falkirk did not add to their score, thanks principally to some excellent defence around the fringes in which the “Hills” back row and half backs excelled, they had parity of the field possession and were always in the game and dangerous with their quick transfer of the ball to the wings. Yet “Hills” had chances, missing an eminently kickable penalty from just to the right of the posts and failing to turn a five minute period of pressure on the Falkirk line into points. “Hills” score, when it did come, owed much to captain Stuart Ross’s tenacity, when he evaded at least two desperate tackles to weave his way to the posts, thereby presenting Angus Twaddle with a straight forward conversion. Although only the one score ahead, Falkirk played down the clock comfortably enough, but in the final movement of play a desperate fly hack from a Falkirk boot saw the ball ricochet from the upright and fall safely outside the in-goal area; on another day the ball could so easily have fallen into a “Hills” players hands. There was only time for the excellent match referee, Neil Paterson, to blow for fulltime, thereby sending Falkirk deservedly through to the 5th round draw for the SHE Cup. “Hills” head Coach, Keith Robertson, noted: “We played well in spells to have Falkirk on the defensive but then we seemed to lose our concentration, and let them back into it. I was absolutely delighted with the debut performance of the 17year old David Armstrong at scrum half, I thought he fronted up very well” Hills XV – Angus Twaddle, Chris Jubb , David Paterson , Ally Wright (Richard Harris ), Ally Jamieson, Cammy McCulloch, David Armstrong, Douglas Walker , Stewart McMillan ,Calum McConnachie ( Nick McAulay ) , Duncan McCartney ( Douglas Wood ), Martin Lane , Stuart Ross ( C ), Cammy Kerr and Stuart Rose . Subs. Tom Harding |
