GHA RFC MATCH 316: GHA RFC 23 – 44 WATSONIANS FC
2015/206: Scottish National League One
GHA RFC |
|
WATSONIANS FC| A. Gillman | 15 | R. Steele |
| R. Jericevich | 14 | M. Bertram |
| B. Addison | 13 | A. Chalmers |
| (c) A. Henderson | 12 | D. J. Innes |
| A. Auld | 11 | S. McLeod |
| A. Goudie | 10 | D. Blair |
| P. Jericevich | 9 | E. McKirdy |
| S. Carson | 1 | M. Christie (c) |
| E. Cavan | 2 | A. Ross |
| M. Robertson | 3 | A. Marsh |
| A. Barnett | 4 | T. Callander |
| C. McGeough | 5 | R. Denonain |
| G. Neilson | 6 | J. Neary |
| J. Dunn | 7 | R. Snedden |
| G. MacDonald | 8 | R. Drummond |
| L. Archer | 16 | L. Di Rollo |
| M. Fox | 17 | N. Borel |
| R. McKinstray | 18 | C. Harvey |
| J. Edgar | 19 | R. Cullen |
| M. Stevenson | 20 | J. Waddell |
| Addison, Dunn, Gillman, R. Jericevich | Try | Drummond (2), Bertram, McKirdy |
| Con | Blair (3) | |
| P. Jericevich | Pen | Blair (6) |
| DG | ||
| Referee | ||
| Mr R. Mabon (Borders RS) | ||
GHA and Watsonians each scored four tries at Braidholm on Saturday. But that was just about the only way the home club matched the Edinburgh visitors in the BT National League Division 1 match.
Watsonians won by scoring almost twice as many points as their hosts. Indeed, David Blair, Watsonians’ stand-off, notched more on his own than GHA; 24 points with three conversions and six penalty goals. Overall, he had a strike rate of 80% whereas GHA’s only goal was by Peter Jericevich from a penalty early in the second half. None of the four home tries was converted.
GHA simply did not have enough possession and continuity to match the visitors. Tries by Rangi Jericevich, Andrew Gillman and Ben Addison were only rare reminder of what GHA’s backs were capable of. Flanker Jack Dunn had the other home try.
Two of Blair’s goals, both for tackle infringements, put the visitors six points up after only three minutes. The second of those also cost GHA the loss of Peter Jericevich to the sin bin.
Yet, even while short-handed, GHA scored their first try. Its source was a lineout on the left, and after the forwards had driven almost to the goal-line the home team switched to swift passes across the field for Addisons quick hands to send Rangi Jericevich over in the corner, too far out for Andrew Goudie to convert.
Blair added his third penalty goal in 11 minutes, but almost as soon as PJ was back on the field the home pack drove over from another lineout on the left for Dunn’s try. Though PJ missed the conversion, GHA were ahead at 10-9.
Watsonians, however, had the better of the second quarter, going into half-time with a 26-10 lead with tries by Mark Bertram and Euan McKirdy plus conversions by Blair, whose fourth penalty bracketed his fellow backs scores.
Peter Jericevich and Blair traded penalty goals early in the second half before a thrilling exchange between Andy Henderson and Addison opened the way for James Edger to send Gillman over in the right corner. That cut Watsonians lead to 18-29, but two tries by Ross Drummond midway in the second half not only secured the bonus point for the visitors but also made them almost sure of victory with a lead of 23 points.
GHA still found the means to gain their bonus point 10 minutes from the end when PJ and Robert McKinstray linked to send Addison. Blair, who converted the visitors’ last try, then added his fifth penalty goal, but at the end GHA were gamely trying to win the try-count if not the match.
Source: Bill McMurtrie
