GHA RFC MATCH 51: ABERDEEN GRAMMAR RUGBY 51 – 26 GHA RFC

2004/GHA2005: Scottish Premiership One

ABERDEEN GRAMMAR RUGBY 

 GHA RFC

R. Seib (c)15R. West
C. Phillips14R. Watson
A. Buchan13A. Bulloch
S. Arnold12C. Pothan
J. Dunn11R. McClymont
K. Oddie10I. Kennedy
M. McLean9N. MacLeod
D. Massey1R. Nolan
T. Dinnen2C. Di Ciacca (c)
S. Corsar3M. Diaz
M. Stanning4A. Williamson
A. Pulman5J. Eddie
J. McKenzie6L. Hazelton
D. Teague7A. Boag
G. Strang8R. Williams
B. Prescott16D. Malcolm
J. Watt17D. Jamieson
R. Currie18G. Fisher
T. Jericevich19
Phillips (2), Seib (2), Corsar, Pulman, TeagueTryWest (2), Kennedy, Watson
Oddie (5)ConKennedy (3)
Oddie (2)Pen
DG
Referee
Mr J. Steele (Dumfries)

 

Finally, the real Aberdeen Grammar showed up, with a display brimming with confidence and occasionally brilliance as Aberdeen Grammar ran in seven tries against GHA.

Grammar finally stood up to the delight of home coach Damian Reidy, who said: “I never lost faith in them and I am absolutely delighted with their performance which takes us off the bottom of the league.”

Reidy has every right to be proud of his team who delivered the goods when most needed as they moved up to 10th place in Division 1 of the BT Scotland Premiership. The only scary moment in the game for the home side came in the 72nd minute when two-try captain and full back Rod Seib was stretchered off with an ankle injury. Thankfully for Seib, and the Rubislaw faithful, the injury is not likely to keep the Australian out of Saturday’s match at Currie.

Seib’s contribution was significant, but this was a genuine team performance in which every player had a major role to play as acknowledged by Reidy, who said: “We oozed self-belief, confidence and most of all reduced our mistakes to a minimum. It is a big step forward, not to say a big relief.”

While Reidy was reluctant to single out individuals, it was clear he was pleased with the performance of his youngsters, including the return to form of winger Colin Phillips, a Portsoy product, who scored two tries and might have added more to his tally. Just as pleasing was the return of prop Ben Prescott, who may only have come on as a replacement after 30 minutes, but looked every bit the part even after a long lay-off. Fellow prop Stuart Corsar, formerly of Inverurie, said: “Ben may be a competitor for a place in the front row, but that’s fine by me.” Corsar made it a great day by scoring his third try for the club.

Encouragingly for Reidy the back division looked more incisive than of late, scoring four tries and looking to expand their play at every opportunity, but it was up front Grammar won their first victory against a less abrasive GHA pack. GHA coach David Wilson conceded the battles of the packs and said: “They wanted it more than us.”

Grammar were first out of the blocks, racing into an eight-point lead in 10 minutes, and despite a stunning 17th-minute reply from full back Ross West, converted by stand off Iain Kennedy, remained in charge.

Tries from Phillips, Seib, Dan Teague and Corsar in the space of 15 minutes blew away the Glasgow side, ending the game in 65 minutes.

GHA battled on, providing two tries of their own, but never remotely threatening to win the game. A late effort from Aaron Pulman finally killed off the gallant, but hapless visitors.

Source: The Press and Journal, Monday 27th September 2004

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