Glasgow High/Kelvinside 17, Gala 17.
I SUPPOSE when the clubs are fielding reserve sides, with 10 and nine
regulars absent respectively, a draw is an acceptable result.
Whether GHK see it that way when they were seven points ahead with
just two minutes to play, is another story.
It was a game full of total commitment and expression with players not
bogged down by league pressures.
GHK will be pleased they retained their unbeaten record so far this
season. The performance of some of their youngsters introduced will be
particularly heartening with Shaun Little, Angus Kerr, Chris Docherty
and the back row of Craig Easson, Scott Hutton and Rod McLeod, all
showing enthusiasm and skill that would warrant promotion any time the
Old Anniesland club needed them in the run-in towards the second
division title.
Gala, too, will not be displeased with their so-called reserves
slotting in to their total commitment to running rugby.
Eyes were on Gregor Townsend, the fly half surely destined for further
international honours. In a bid to regain full fitness and sharpness, he
chose to play for his club rather than the South against Leinster.
The presence of butterfingers among his fellow backs did nothing for
the Gala cause. Having said that, they did score three excellent tries
to GHK's one and there was definitely cause for thinking what might have
been.
GHK's activity around the pitch and smother tackling warranted the
lead they took in five minutes when Geoff Hawkes was put in by Harry
Bassi after a long pass from skipper Iain McDiarmid. In 15 minutes full
back Bassi stretched GHK's lead.
But Gala were beginning to show their running skills and two tries
came inside two minutes. The ever alert Gordon Waddell got the first by
running on to a Gregor Townsend pass and straightening his run to fool
the GHK defence. Waddell made the second by appearing on the left wing,
making a lot of ground before slipping a pass to Geoff Keen who flipped
the ball over his shoulder to Jim Turnbull for the try.
It took GHK only two minutes following the interval to restore their
lead. Breckenridge missed with a drop attempt but the referee spotted an
earlier offence and from the penalty Bassi did the needful. The full
back was on the mark again in 52 minutes.
However, Breckenridge struck a majestic drop goal from 38 metres and
at 17-10 GHK seemed comfortable. But the Borderers were still full of
fight and with two minutes to play they scored the try of the match.
From inside his own 22, the mercurial Keen took off on a meandering
run over half way, gave to Craig Townsend who brought in Turnbull. The
centre had the ever ready Neil Crooks at his shoulder and the flanker
ran between the posts leaving Changleng an easy conversion to level the
match.
GHK -- H S Bassi; P Manning, S Little, I McDiarmid, G F Hawkes; G M
Breckenridge, A A Kerr; R Hastings, C Docherty, K Houlihan, K A Wilson,
D Mellor, C Easson, S C Hutton, R McLeod.
Gala -- D Changleng; G L Waddell, J G L Turnbull, C Townsend, G W
Keen; G P J Townsend, D Paterson; K Thomson, G G Crosbie, A Johnston, R
Gray, R Hogg, N J Crooks, M A Ballantyne, R Perrett.
Referee -- M White (Leinster).
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