Sole leads Accies from the front with superb captain’s performance
● League leaders held to draw as errors and yellow cards take toll
point – but, this was, as Redpath conceded: “An errorstrewn performance, and a wake-up call; we only played well in patches.”
Alex Easson, handling coaching duties for the day with Accies, hailed: “A confidence-booster and a demonstration of belief on the back of fantastic effort.”
His men were set up to defend well but to take their chances when they came along, and how well they stuck to the script. However, the main influence on the game was an absolutely phenomenal personal and leadership performance by Jamie Sole.
Captaincy is in the Sole family genes, but not even his illustrious father David could have turned in a in the final quarter when the result seemed like a foregone conclusion. Only this time, it was GHA who had built up the advantage which they saw being devoured.
“I think we went to sleep halfway though the second half, but the defensive set we had at the last couple of minutes there was brilliant from the boys. That will to not lose was immense. I’m proud of the boys and we got a bonus point. I think we just need to shore up the defence a wee bit, we’re leaking some tries, captain’s performance such as his son gave here.
Yellow cards were also an issue. Accies were briefly down to 13 men after Sean Crombie and Declan Dennen were sent to the naughty step – Marr scoring ten points in this time. Marr, too, had to operate without Ewan Hamilton-bulger in the first half, and fellow lock Fraser Grant in the second – their teamconceding 15 points during their absences.
For the record, Benedict Grant and Gregor Ness scored tries for Marr, both converted by Colin Sturgeon, who also kicked two penalties.
Max Love, Angus Inwood and Will Stephens crossed for Accies, with Jamie Loomes goaling one penalty, but, perhaps crucially, only one conversion. but we move on to our next Premiership game with a bit of confidence”, said the GHA head coach.
After a scrappy first half, the teams hit the sheds with GHA leading 10-7. Jack Anderson had knocked over an early penalty, but for the next 20 both sides swung punches which couldn’t quite connect.
Jed eventually got themselves into the lead. A charging run from the base of the scrum by No.8 Dom Buckley set Jed ontheirway,andalthoughfinlaycampbellwasbundledinto Glasgow Hawks scored a notable victory on Saturday with a win that spoke volumes for a defensive display in the second half that denied everything Hawick threw them, writes Atholl Innes.
The defence stood firm as the hosts dominated territory in a game that produced only one try and three penalties.
“The players put in a strong performance, they (Hawick) never got a score in terms of a try and that was a testament to the boys,” said coach Steven Findlay. “We kept a clean sheet and I am not sure the last time we did that.
“It was never going to be champagne rugby in the conditions. It was a massive result and one that we need to build on.”
Hawks scored early with a penalty try after a series of scrums close to the Hawick line and Liam Brims added a penalty in the second half. Despite their pressure, Hawick could add only an Ali Weir penalty to the one he kicked in the first half.
It was a performance and result that frustrated head coach George Graham. “It is one of these things, where do we go from here?” he said. “We lacked the basic skills, and we cannot blame the weather as it was the same for Hawks. We could not convert possession and territory into points in the second half and could not hold on to the ball for long enough periods.”
In the wet conditions, it was a question of the survival and Hawks had the better of the first half after the early score settled the nerves and it was on the half-hour before Weir kicked the first of his two penalties to cut the deficit to four points at the interval after Brims kicked a penalty for Hawks.
Weir added a second penalty with 25 minutes left to play, but Hawick were unable to add to the scoreline despite the pressure. touch as he stretched for the line,anderson’sclearancewas returned with interest. Having been fielded by Lewis Young, he ran it back deep into GHA territory, before Calum Young sentreplacementgarymunro in at the left corner.
Gharetooktheleadthrough a Chris Binnie score, the result of a great breenge by Adam Kerr and a lovely off-load from Jack Anderson which kept the ball alive.
Jed had one final good chance in the half to get back in front when Adam Barnett was penalised for playing the ball on the floor, but they were penalised for obstruction at the resultant line-out. It was one set-piece error of many by the visitors, and GHA’S dominance in that facet of play helped them extend their lead at the start of the second half.
First, they pulverised Jed’s scrumontheirownput-in,and inside their own 22. Knowing they had the upper hand, they went to the corner. The maul was illegally hauled down and referee David Sutherland awarded the penalty try.