You are here: Match Reports/2007-08/1st XV/SKelso 6th October 2007
Click here for printable version of the report
Click here for the Kelso view
Click here for printable version of the report
Click here for the Kelso view
| “HILLS” KICK AWAY CHANCES Hillhead Jordanhill 9pts Kelso 11pts This was a desperately disappointing performance from the “Hills”. While the players could not be faulted for their lack of effort throughout the 80 minutes - they prevented Kelso scoring when reduced to only 13 men, Cammy McCulloch and Gavin Blackburn were carded - their quality of play was poor, with few phases of continuity play in evidence. What momentum was gained came through the rolling, driving maul, but inevitably any headway that was made was quickly dissipated though numerous handling errors and wayward kicking from hand, which gave Kelso plenty of time to regroup and return the ball with interest. Also, the best of the rolling mauls took place too far away from the Kelso danger areas. Indeed, the principal method of attack from Kelso was also their rolling maul which took them across the gain line on several occasions. The Kelso backs, given a good lead by Kevin Utterson, looked livelier in attack throughout but found the “Hills” defence, in which Will Marshall excelled, hard to crack open. But when their replacement back, Ewen Ford, was introduced in the final fifteen minutes, Kelso looked altogether a sharper side. The only try of the game was created by Ford and finished off in the left hand corner by Utterson in the 78th minute. This took the game away from “Hills”, who looked as if they might have held onto their slender three point lead, courtesy of three Cammy McCulloch penalty goals to two from Kevin Utterson. But it was not to be and for their third successive home game, the “Hills” gathered only the single losing bonus point. Yet despite never looking like scoring a try, “Hills” might have won the game, but missed a total of seven penalty goals, and these on a day free from any weather influences. Conversion of even one would have been sufficient to yield their first win of the season but “Hills” now have to regroup ahead of their difficult away trip to Neilston Park to take on the top of the table Haddington. Best for “Hills” were second rower, Jamie Howarth, and no. 8 and captain, Cammy Kerr. A somewhat deflated Grant Sweenie summed up the coaching team’s feelings: “ This was a hard one to bear. But we are very determined. Our training sessions are very well organised by Keith, and we have excellent attendance and commitment from everyone in the Club. We need to believe in ourselves a bit more and each of the players requires to take on some more responsibility” Hills XV – David Mitchell, Gavin Mahindru ( Angus Twaddle ) , David Paterson , Will Marshall, Donald Robertson, Cammy McCulloch, Andrew Gilman, Gavin Blackburn , Stewart McMillan , Douglas Walker ( Joe Stafford ) , Douglas Crichton ( Douglas Wood ) , Jamie Howarth , Stuart Ross, Cammy Kerr ( C ) and Stuart Rose . Subs. Stuart Todd |
