Stewart’s Melville 23 GHA 29

GHA remain in second place and in the ascendancy for the promotion play off spot after an outstanding 5 point, 5 try performance against nearest rivals Stewart’s Melville FP at Inverleith.

GHA got off to the perfect start when from a scrum on the right hand side and just inside the Stewart’s Melville half, scrum half Peter Jericevich broke up the blind side and put in the perfect chip ahead which he raced on to and grounded for the opening score. Stand Off Andrew Goudie missed the conversion.

?Stewart’s Melville hit back with a well taken try by full back Michael Hanning which Nick McCashin converted to give the home side the lead. GHA however reponded soon after when right wing John Brogan showed great strength to go over on the right hand side after sustained phase play inside the opposition 22. Goudie missed the conversion.

McCashin then added a penalty for the home side to bring the scores level however once again GHA were quick to respond. From a driving maul, the GHA pack surged forward and when the Stewart’s Melville pack managed to disrupt the maul’s momentum, Ross Angus broke off and powered over for GHA’s third try. Goudie again was unfortunate with the conversion, struggling to find his range on the big Stewart’s Melville pitch.

Just before half time, McCashin added a further 3 points for the home team to keep them in touch at 13 to 15 at half time.

GHA started the second half strongly. First of all John Brogan had a score disallowed after knocking on from a clever Goudie cross field kick but he made up for it soon after with a similar score to his first, showing impressive strength to finish off another wide move. Peter Jericevich slotted the conversion having assumed the kicking duties from Goudie at half time.

GHA’s fifth try soon followed when full back Chris Binnie’s high up and under was misjudged by the Stewart’s Melville cover defence and the ball bounced perfectly into the hands of the onrushing Alan Auld who finished well. Jericevich added the conversion to give GHA a commanding 29 to 13 lead.

Stewart’s Melville got themselves back into the game when winger Matt Morrell scored and McCashin again added the extra two points. He followed this up with a penalty to bring the score to 29 to 23 with 10 minutes to go.

GHA did well to control the remaining minutes and held on for a deserved win. This week GHA have no game but resume the week after with a trip to Biggar.

Stew Mel: Mike Hanning, Matt Morrell, Seb Trotter, Neil Bowie, Angus Rennie, Nick McCashin (c), Fraser Strachan, Willie Aitken, Ruairdh Mitchell, Rhys Morgan, Fraser Morrison, Scott Brewster, Hugh Lindsay, Stuart Wilson, Fraser Christie – Replacements: Chris Anderson, Ruairdh Stewart, Ben Johnstone, Gregor Porteous, Euan Bowen

Scorers: T – Hanning, Morrell C – McCashin (2) P – McCashin (3)

GHA: Chris Binnie; John Brogan, Max MacFarlane, Andrew Henderson, Euan Greer; Andrew Goudie, Peter Jericevich; Scott Carson, James Malcolm, Michael Fox, Adam Barnett, Chris McGeogh, Donald Malcolm (c), Ross Angus, Grant MacDonald – Replacements: Jamie Leslie, Jamie Auld, Gordon Campbell, Alan Auld,  Murray Houston.

Scorers: T – Brogan (2), Angus, Auld, Jericevich C – Jericevich (2)

Referee: Mr D. McClement

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