GHA players and supporters were left disappointed after a sloppy display against cross town rivals Hillhead/Jordanhill. It wasn’t the score line that was worrying, Hills’ won by 4 tries to 1, however 3 of their scores came after the GHA coaches made a raft of substitutions. Rather it was the manner of the perfromance that was cause for concern during their penultimate preseason match.
The first half of the first half saw Hills’ dominate teritory and posession with their pack controlling the game and earning a well deseved try from a line out catch and drive on the GHA 5 meter line. GHA’s set piece was poor throughout the 80 minutes givng the backs few opportunites from first phase. GHA also struggled at the breakdown where they were outmuslcled by a bigger and more physical Hills’ pack.
Toward the end of the first period, GHA began to play more rugby and were guilty of spurning a number of try scoring opportunities. The second period began as the first ended with GHA enjoying their best part of the game, scoring a well worked try out wide after Niall Cassie broke through and fed Hefin O’Hare on his outside to score in the corner.
The final 30 minutes descended into a disjointed affair as the changes were rung. Hills’ showed some great interlinking and offloading skills as they created several opporunities, 3 of which were taken. Notable performances were put in by the Hills’ Number 8 who had an excellent game, as did Hill’s fly half and former GHA player A. J. McFarlane.
GHA have a lot to work on before they visit Edinburgh Accies next Saturday in their final preseason test.
For those planning on travelling through to Raeburn Place, Kick Off is at 3pm.The 2nd XV will also play their Accies 2ndXV counterparts at 230pm.
