GHA RFC MATCH 206: GHA RFC 28 – 37 KELSO RFC 

2010/2011: Scottish Premiership C

GHA RFC 

 KELSO RFC

R. McClymont15A. Osman
C. Binnie14G. Ponton
(c) N. Cassie13M. Hartley
A. Rushforth12K. Utterson
B. Wamberg11An. Haig
G. Taylor10P. Hume
M. Houston9A. Tait
 M. Kidd1C. Keen
D. Malcolm2C. Riddell
J. Low3B. Lyburn
R. Jenkins4F. Young
S. Shearer5N. Ioane
M. Strydom6G. Riddell
J. Pinder7L. Mitchell
D. Kellock8I. Moody
G. Warnock16D. Cowan
A. Barnett17A. Frame
J. Auld18L. Tarry
G. Adams19Al. Haig
Cassie (2), PinderTryAn. Haig (2), Osman, Ponton, Utterson
Houston (2)ConPonton (3)
Houston (3)PenPonton (2)
DG
Referee
Mr A. Tweedale (West RS)

 

With both teams occupying unenviable positions at the foot of Scottish Premiership C, following the re-allocation of fixtures, this match promised to be one of nail biting intensity and so it proved to be. It was a pity that the kick off had to be 12 noon, particularly from the point of view of the visitors who had had to make the long journey from Kelso.

The weather was fairly mild and dry, but with a biting wind blowing from the direction of the Clubhouse.and the home side kicking off with a following wind From the kick off, Kelso were adjudged to be off-side and with barely a minute on the clock, Murray Houston made no mistake with a kick from 25 metres. (3-0) Kelso quickly moved the ball downfield and from a line-out throw, GHA were caught in a similar off-side position to give Greg Ponton the opportunity to level the scores with a well taken kick (3-3)

GHA were contesting well in both lines-out and scrums and took play into the Kelso half where Murray Houston was again successful with a penalty from the Kelso 10 metres line (6-3) From the kick off, Kelso took play well into the GHA half and following a bout of inter-passing appeared to score a try but this was disallowed and the players were brought back for a scrum. In 12 minutes, Kevin Utterson took advantage of a gap in the GHA defence and powered over for a well taken try (6-8), converted by Greg Ponton (6-10).

After 20 minutes play, Murray Houston brought the scores to (9-10) with an excellent penalty kick.

Kelso were becoming increasingly dominant in the lines-out but a wayward throw in on the stand side was quickly seized by Morne Strydom who ran to the goal line and passed to Jamie Pinder following up, for a well taken try (14-10), converted by Murray Houston (16-10).This try seemed to galvanise GHA into action and it was no surprise when Niall Cassie ran from deep in his own half to touch down and bring the score to (21-10) Again, Murray Houston made no mistake with the conversion (23-10.)

After Kevin Ponton was wide with a penalty kick at goal Gregg Taylor managed to spin the ball to the stand side to Andrew Rushforth who got his pass to Niall Cassie allowing the GHA captain to power over for his second try. (28-10) From near the touchline, Murray Houston’s conversion kick was just wide.

GHA were really pressing and a promising handling move seemed certain to add to the home side’s score line but a knock-on gave the advantage to Kelso and a loose pass allowed Andrew Haig to intercept and have a clear run in for a well taken try (28-15), converted by Greg Ponton (28-17)

SECOND HALF

At a 28-17 scoreline, GHA had seemed destined to move ahead of both Kirkcaldy and Kelso in the League, but in an error-strewn second half, the home side proved the old adage that “if a halo slips, it can very quickly become a noose.

With the sun in their faces, Kelso were probably looking defeat in the eye, especially as GHA continued to press forward with Strydom and Pinder leading many of the charges, ably assisted by Donald Malcolm. A try for the home side seemed “on the cards until a wayward kick was charged down allowing Adnaan Osman to run in for a try (28-22). As the home support sighed with relief at the missed conversion, this was short lived, as another attempted clearance was charged down, a penalty for being off side awarded and the reliable boot of Greg Ponton made no mistake. (28-25)

Kelso now appeared to be in command of all phases of the game and it was no surprise when Kevin Utterson burst clear and passed to Andrew Haig for his second try of the match,(28-30) As the conversion kick went wide, the feeling among the home support was that a bonus point was at least available but worse was to come. From a fairly simple kick ahead, the defending GHA players seemed to have the ball under control but possession was lost in the follow up by Greg Ponton, who seized on the opportunity and raced in for the final try of the afternoon. (28-35). The conversion by the try scorer merely rubbed salt in the wound of the home side as the final score (28-37) cancelled the possibility of a losing bonus point.

FINAL SCORE GHA 28 Kelso 37

At the end of the match, Jamie Pinder, the GHA number 7 was found to be suffering from an illness and on the advice of the medical personnel present, an ambulance was called for to take him to hospital for a check-up.

Everyone at Braidholm sends their best wishes to Jamie for a speedy and full recovery.

Source: Bill McMurtrie

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