GHA RFC MATCH 268: WATSONIANS FC 19 – 8 GHA RFC
2013/2014: Scottish National League
WATSONIANS FC |
|
GHA RFC| A. Ledingham | 15 | S. Lang |
| S. McKean | 14 | R. Jericevich |
| R. Aitken | 13 | H. O’Hare |
| T. Hart | 12 | A. Henderson (c) |
| J. Ferguson | 11 | J. Couper |
| (c) B. Di Rollo | 10 | N. Cassie |
| R. Young | 9 | M. Houston |
| M. Christie | 1 | J. White |
| D. Moussa | 2 | M. Kidd |
| J. Forrester | 3 | S. Fisher |
| M. Rennie | 4 | R. Glen |
| C. Smith | 5 | J. Auld |
| C. Abram | 6 | P. Harkins |
| N. Dennis | 7 | A. Auld |
| E. Miller | 8 | G. MacDonald |
| A. Ross | 16 | S. Carson |
| D. Keenan | 17 | M. Fox |
| A. Joseph | 18 | D. Larkin |
| M. Page | 19 | J. Plumridge |
| R. Steele | 20 | D. Dunn |
| Hart | Try | Jericevich |
| Di Rollo | Con | |
| Di Rollo (4) | Pen | Houston |
| DG | ||
| Referee | ||
| Mr S. Grove-White (Caledonia RS) | ||
The weather forecast on Friday had promised a bright and crisp Autumn afternoon but as it happened, the rather dreich conditions on the day were a fair reflection on the game as a whole.
Watsonians started brightly putting GHA under pressure but the GHA defense stood firm against the early onslaught, as it would for the full 80 minutes. GHA’s set piece struggled for parity all afternoon however it was from a piece opportunism from the Watsonians flanker that their first and only try of the afternoon was born. With the ball threatening to be won against the head from a Watsonians scrum feed on the half way, the ball was scooped back by the blindside flanker unsighted by any of the officials. With possession secured, the Watsonians fly half then put a high up and under on the GHA full back and a fumble saw onrushing Watsonians centre Tom Hart pounce for the score.
At the very next scrum it was de ja vu as once again, a hand came in from the Watsonians flanker, again missed by all three officials, and from that possession Watsonians won a penalty which fly half Ben Di Rollo converted for a 10 nil lead.
As the match entered the second quarter, GHA began to establish a foothold in the game with some hopeful inroads deep into Watsonians territory. From a break up the right hand touch line GHA won a penalty which scrum half Murray Houston converted before Rangi Jericevich scored in the right hand corner just before half time to see the visitors go in at the break 10 to 8 down but very much with the momentum.
The half time period gave Watsonians a chance to regroup and they came out in the second half with renewed impetus. However, they got little change from a staunch GHA defense and despite dominating both possession and territory for the full 40 minutes, the GHA line was rarely threatened save for a few speculative attacking kicks.
Watsonians scored a further three penalties but the talking point of the half was a dubious decision by the referee to call back a forward pass after Andy Henderson released Jericevich up the right hand touch line which could have secured at least a losing bonus point for the visitors and made for a tense finale. Alas it was not to be.
Next week GHA welcome undefeated league leaders Boroughmuir to Braidholm. Kick Off 3pm.
Source: Bill McMurtrie
