GHA 31 JED-FOREST 53
Jedforest arrived in confident mood following pre season exertions which saw them record two victories from three matches. Both sides took the field through a guard of honour provided by GHAs junior section and a large expectant crowd had hardly settled when the visitors took the lead in under two minutes with Robbie Shirra -Gibb going over from a worked move from the tail of the lineout. The ease with which the winger moved through home ranks was a portent of things to come in what was a long afternoon for the home side.
Down 5pts to nil GHA regrouped and threatened the Jedforest defence with some slick passing and quick recycling of the ball. Some superb approach play by the home side was rewarded when Andrew Gillman cut through the visitors defence to score and his try was converted by Peter Jericevich. Jed-forest took the game straight back to GHA and Robbie Yourston converted a penalty when GHA were penalised for a late tackle. This brought the score to 7pts to 8pts in favour of the visitors.
Almost immediately GHA gave away another penalty and Jed fed the ball along the line to allow Callum Young to score a try in the corner which was converted by Robbie Yourston. This made the score 7pts to 15pts in favour of the visitors. GHA worked hard to gain territory and were unlucky not to score through excellent recycled ball from the loose. Jedforest gave away several penalties as they attempted to hold the line. The home side chose to use the power of their scrum which knocked Jed back and eventually with some deft handling by the home side Max Macfarlane dived between the posts to narrow the deficit. The conversion by Peter Jericevich narrowed the gap to one point and it seemed that GHA had recovered their momentum and indeed were pressurising the visitors.
From the restart Connor Hogg gathered and split the home defence wide open to score. With the try converted the score now stood at 14pts to 22pts for the visitors. A worrying trend was manifesting itself namely after a period of GHA pressure in the visitors half there would be some slick handling and mismoves from the visitors who would proceed to score! Despite this frailty GHA pressed again as half time beckoned and Peter Jericevich converted a superb penalty from far out to reduce the leeway.
HALF TIME – GHA 17 JED-FOREST 22
The second half began with Jedforest seeking to move the ball wide and support their strike runners when tackled. This resulted in another score when Sean Goodfellow went over and his try was converted. The score now stood at 17pts to 29pts in favour of Jedforest.The visitors clearly sensed that their quick recycling and accurate passing and crucially support of the ball carrier was winning the contest.
Jedforest scored again through Lewis Young, the full back going over after great support amongst the visitors. The try was converted and a somewhat shellshocked home side were now 17pts to 36pts down. Jedforest were now in control and continued to exploit defensive frailties in the home side and it was no surprise when the visitors scored again to take their score to 41pts.
To the credit of the home side they redoubled their efforts and pushed the visitors back deep into their own half. Following excellent approach play a superb break by Andrew Goudie put Max Macfarlane in which Peter Jericevich converted to bring the score to 24pts to 41pts.This spirited reply was totally undone when in a break from loose play Jedforest broke through and scored again which was converted. This took the score to 24pts to 48pts.The pattern was now set…each recovery by the home side was undone by giving away scores.
Jedforest in the closing stages of the match were camped on GHA’s line and stout defending finally broke with Callum Young scoring for the visitors in the corner. This gave Jedforest a comfortable 53pts to24pts lead. In the last move of the match Nigel Kelly read the intentions of the Jedforest back line and pressured the visitors. In the resulting breakdown he controlled the ball before gathering to score and secure the 4 try bonus point for the home team. Peter Jericevich converted.
TEAMS:
GHA – A. Gillman, N. Kelly, B. Addison, M. Macfarlane, A. Spowart, A. Goldie, P. Jericevich, J. Leslie, G. Campbell, M. Scott, R. Jenkins, D..Kellock, J. Auld, R. Angus, P. Harkins
Replacements: T. Sciallo, L. Barron, R. Firth, M. Houston, T. Brown
Scorers: T – MacFarlane (2), Gillman, Kelly C – Jericevich (4) P – Jericevich
JED-FOREST – L. Young C. Young G. Young M. Mitchell R. Shirra-Gibb R. Yourston S. Goodfellow R. Gibson C. Hogg P. Ferreira C. Skeldon G. Law M. Weekley C. Cowan B. Roff
Replacements: R. Glendinning, J. Hynd, G. Robson, D. Ritchie, D. Wallace
Scorers: T – C. Young (2), Hogg, Goodfellow, Shirra-Gibb, L. Young, TBC C – Yourston (5) P – Yourston
Referee: Mr Ross Mabon
