Hillhead Jordanhill 34 points Gordonians 17 points
Bernie Mitchell
By any standards this was a joyous day of Rugby, played out on the hallowed turf of Scottish Gas Murrayfield in front of, at times, a raucous Hills support. The match details are only part of the story : the victors were 12-0 down after only 10 minutes ; 17 all after 30 and then 22-17 at the mid point of the game. By full time, Hills had extended their lead to 34-17 and this against Gordonians, this Season’s winners of National League 2. Additionally Hills talisman, stand-off Rory Harte, was yellow carded for 10 minutes in the first half, and centre Andrew Brown saw off the last 5 minutes of the game sanctioned for a technical offence.
The try scorers naturally are important : captain Blair Colvin drove over from short range after 12 minutes, followed a few minutes later by Andrew Brown who pounced on a Rory Harte kick pass which bamboozled the Aberdeen defence. And just before the end of the half, Captain Colvin again drove over near the posts. Rory Harte’s work off the kicking tee was much improved on previous weeks, slotting 2 conversions and a penalty. The second half saw the try of the game, if not Silver Saturday, when flying right winger, Matt Murray, collected another Rory Harte kick pass on the bounce to scamper past his defensive minder to touch down. Finally the Ulsterman Jaysen Denley, who combined fierce ball carrying with acrobatic touchline work drove over for his try. Rory Harte added his 3rd conversion of the afternoon.
But the above is a mere summary of those who featured on the score sheet and reveals little of the team’s collective performance which had Gordonians frantically treading water for some 70% of the game. There were no discernible weaknesses in any of the 22 man squad’s performance. Each played his part to perfection.. The pack scrummaged well against heavier Aberdeen forwards. The touchline trio of Colvin, Price and Denley bossed the line-out. Hooker Calum Weir was his usual dynamic self in the loose, as was Liam Tighe, a human tight head Exocet when running from deep. Darryl ( Pharaoh ) Elvin was unmovable on the loose head while 2nd rower Giacomo Sanders and no.8, Milan Marinkovic, were aggressive both in the tight and loose.
Euan Ward was a revelation at scrum half in only his 4th Senior game, the Merryfield wizards on the wings, Fionn Whyte and Matt Murray, burned the turf at every opportunity. The veteran Scott Halliday at 12 was exceptional, both in attack and defence while full back, Damien Genocchio, was terrier like in attack. Stand off Rory Harte was in a class of his own and rightly deserved his MOM status.
The memories of this day in the immature April sun at Scottish Gas Murrayfield will live long with those who played in the Cup final and those supporters present whose roar when their team returned to the field after half time must have put fear into the men from the Granite city. The volume of social media postings, each recording happy, smiling faces, are testimony to the beauty of sport and its impact, when winning, on both those who participate and support.
National League Cup final squad: Damien Genocchio, Matt Murray, Andrew Brown, Scott Halliday, Fionn Whyte , Rory Harte ( vice Captain ) Euan Ward, Darryl Elvin, Calum Weir, Liam Tighe, Giacomo Sanders, Blair Colvin ( Captain ), Jaysen Denley, Milan Marinkovic and Douglas Price : Reserves Callum Griffiths, Lewis Lightbody, Angus Rutter, Ryan Reilly, Charles Smillie, Corrie Dicks, Ciaran Callaghan
