FORWARDS TO THE FORE IN CUP VICTORY

GHA RFC MATCH 251: ARDROSSAN ACADEMICALS RFC 3 – 37 GHA RFC 

2012/2013: West Cup – Group A

In their 4th game in the RBS Cup, GHA’s forwards produced and excellent display of attacking rugby, with some great off loading and support play and contributed 4 of GHA’s 5 tries on an unseasonably warm but nonetheless windy afternoon on the West Coast. Paul Harkins (2), Matt Kidd, Chris Landsburgh and Chris Binnie were GHA’s try scorers in a dominant display which underlines the improvements that the GHA squad has made over the past few weeks considering that they had lost here to the same opponents, in the league, in September. In fact, aside from their Cup loss to Premiership leaders Ayr 2 weeks ago, Ardrossan had been unbeaten at home for over a year.

GHA started well and a break from full back Chris Binnie from a mid-field scrum move saw Paul Harkins take an inside pass and cruise through for the opening score. John Brogan converted. That was shortly followed by some excellent lead up work that saw GHA work the ball from their own half through multiple phases and all the way up to the Ardrossan line. The Ardrossan defence, which was solid all afternoon, stood firm inside their own 5 metre line but eventually the GHA pressure told as tight head prop Matt Kidd forced his way over.

The remainder of the first half saw a lull in intensity and GHA squandered several opportunities. Two Brogan penalties was all they could add to the early scores.

The second half began with Ardrossan winning an early penalty within kickable range which they took to secure what proved to be their only points of the afternoon.

GHA’s third try and Harkins’ second came from a GHA driving maul from a line out in the Ardrossan 22. That was soon followed by the bonus point try for substitute Chris Landsburgh who busted his way over from a pick and go after more great build up play from the GHA pack.

In a final flourish, GHA scored what was probably their best try of the afternoon. The try was born from a line out mid way inside the GHA half. Scott Carson broke clear on a busting run that saw him bowl over a couple of Ardrossan tacklers before offloading to Dominic Kellock. The move continued and the whole GHA pack must’ve handled the ball as they worked their way up to the Ardrossan 22. After a couple more surges the ball was spun wide and a lovely delayed pass from Brogan to Binnie who ran a cutting angle saw him break clear and go over. Brogan converted.

There were still a few minutes remaining but GHA were unable to add any further points to the scoreboard.

GHA Head Coach Gordon MacPherson was delighted with the performance. He said:

“The guys are playing with a lot of confidence. It is good to see us capitalising on our opportunities. That has been the key especially early on in the season when we were creating a number of good opportunities but not taking them. It is good now that we are creating some good opportunities and taking more of our chances. Also the defence in particular from our forwards has improved. They are starting to react a little bit faster, get off the line a bit quicker and our communication is a lot better. The backs have defended a lot better in the past but now we are starting to see our forwards defending as a unit. Again there are things to work on but it was good to keep the score down and nullify them.”

With Ayr’s game versus Hillhead/Jordanhill called off, GHA moved back to the top of their group by a single point over Ayr who now have a game in hand.

Source: Bill McMurtrie