GHA 26 Ardrossan Accies 6

Conditions for entertaining rugby don't get any worse than this yet GHA defied the strong winds and rain to produce a convincing 4 try victory over their visitors from the West Coast.

With the dad's from GHA's minis section enjoying their annual lunch before the game, there was a sizeable crowd at Braidholm, despite the poor conditions. GHA started with the disadvantage of playing into the wind and away from the club house yet they dominated the first 40 minutes and went into half time with a commanding 19-6 lead.

The opening score was a well worked effort from the GHA forwards from a line out 10 metres from the Ardrossan line. The ball was worked through several pick and go phases before hooker Donald Malcolm forced his way over.

From the restart, GHA immediately went on the attack and GHA openside flanker Alan Auld made a clean break before chipping the full back however an Ardrossan cover defender won the race to the the line to prevent the score.

GHA were playing at a high tempo that the visitors struggled to contend with and every time GHA got the ball it seemed like a try scoring opportunity might be created. The second try started from a line out just inside the Ardrossan half. Tha ball was quickly shipped to the GHA mid field where the forwards worked through several quick phases, sucking in defenders, before the ball was whipped back toward the touchline by the GHA backs where full back Tane Jericevich broke around the cover defenders before finding Hefin O'Hare on his inside for a lovely score.

Better was still to come. Again from a line out, this time on the half way, the ball was shipped to Number 8 Jamie Pinder who made a half break in the mid field before carrying his would be tacklers a good 10 metres before eventually being hauled down. The quick ball was carried on by the forwards before Houston fed GHA skipper Andrew Henderson who made a half break before making a neat one handed off load to Pinder once more but the Number 8 was tackled 5 metres short. The forwards took over with two quick phases before the backs put the ball through the hands for Alan Auld to score in the far corner. Considering the conditions, this was a try out of the top drawer. Tane JEricevich landed the difficult coversion fro mthe right hand touch line to give GHA a 19-3 lead.

As the weather worsened, the game became scrappier and Ardrossan rounded off the half with a penalty to make the score 19-6.

The second half started with a bang for GHA. Ardrossan now playing into the wind tried to run the ball out from inside their own 40 when a mistake in mid field was pounced on by Alan Auld who hacked the ball forward and this time the flanker's footballing skills paid off as his second kick took the ball away from the cover defenders and he dove over for the try. T Jericevich converted to give GHA a 26-6 lead.

The game was now effectively over as a contest but Ardrossan fought hard right up to the final whistle as they looked for the consolation try. But neither side was able to add to the score board.

Next week GHA travel to Lasswade where they will hope to avenge the diappointing 32-31 loss suffered at Braidholm earlier in the season.

GHA 43 Morgan FP 26

GHA have made an unenviable habit of starting slowly in just about every game they've played this season and last Saturday was no different. Morgan who visited Braidholm with nothing to lose, burst out of the blocks and put GHA under early pressure. They opened the scoring on 5 minutes when their scrum half went for a quick tap from 5 metres out and fed their blind side flanker for an easy score which was then converted.

GHA hit back with a nicely worked score from a line out. The ball was quickly moved to the midfield where GHA openside Alan Auld made a break before drawing the full back and putting his back row compatriot Jamie Pinder in for the score. Houston converted and the scores were 7 all.

The home side still looked lethargic however and were made to pay shortly after when Morgan were awarded a penalty on the GHA 22. Again their scrum half went for a quick tap, the ball was initially worked wide to the opposite wing before the Morgan forwards took over and worked several tight phases before eventually forcing their way over. The try was converted.

Then back came GHA once more, this time from a Morgan clearance kick which was fielded by young winger John Brogan on the half way line and on the left hand touch line. The ball was shipped in field to full back Tane Jericevich who threw a long pass to O'Hare and then on to right wing Rangi Jericevich who broke up the right hand touch line before feeding the ball back inside to the supporting O'Hare. O'Hare then offloded out of the tackle to Dominic Dunn who fed Pinder and the GHA number 8 forced his way over in the corner for a well worked score. 14-12 to the visitors.

Inexplicably GHA then gave away a soft try to the Morgan hooker from a basic line out move 10 metres from the GHA line. The try was converted to give Morgan a 21-12 half time lead.

GHA came out for the second half and played a much more composed game, using the boot of full back T Jericevich to pin the visitors inside their own half. The first score came from a quick tap and go on the Morgan 5m line which saw tight head prop Sean Fisher bull doze his way over for his first try for GHA.

T Jericevich landed 4 second half penalties including two from long range to give GHA the lead and then a comfortable cushion.

From a scrum on the half way line, scrum half Houston saw a gap in behind the Morgan defence and hit a well placed kick which bounced nicely for GHA winger Benedict Farrell who picked up to score in the corner. T Jericevich converted.

Farell's second score came from another penatly which was quickly taken and then moved to the winger for an easy score. 40-21 to the home team

Morgan then responded when the ball was worked wide from a line out on the GHA 22. Despite what looked like obstruction in the mid field, the referee let it go and GHA were then outnumbered on the outside and their left wing score in the corner. 40-26 to GHA.

T Jericevich rounded off the scoring with his 4th pentalty. GHA should have had one more try on the final whistle but the try scoring pass failed to go to hand as replacement Chris Binnie looked to be in at the corner.

GHA produced a more composed second half perfromance to squeeze the life out of their opponents but this was far from convincing. Nevertheless, the important thing is that GHA secured both the win and bonus point and remain in 4th place in the league and still in touch with leaders Howe of Fife who are 8 points ahead but who GHA still have to play twice.

GHA Team:
15. T Jericevich, 14. R Jericevich, 13. H O'Hare, 12. A Henderson(c), 11. J Brogan, 10. D Dunn, 9. M Houston, 8. J Pinder, 7. A Auld, 6. P MacLeod, 5. J Auld, 4. A Barnett, 3. S Fisher, 2. D Malcolm, 1. S Spowart

Replacements: B Farrell, C Binnie, Z McIlwham, M Kidd

Check out the highlights of last Saturday's defeat against Dumfries. Despite the lack of tries there were a few great moments as well as a few controversial refereeing decisions! Enjoy.

Dumfries Saints 9 GHA 6

Despite defeating Dumfries on the opening day of the season, GHA fans and players alike were of the common opinion that the Saints had proved the most impressive opponents thus far and it was of no surprise that they sat at the top of the table as GHA made the trip south for the return fixture. However, both teams prowess in the loose and out wide was more or less neutralised on this occasion at the aptly named Park Farm.

Murray Houston kicked both of GHA's penalties, both in the first 40mins. Both sides spent a period of the game with only 14 men on the field yet even with a numerical disadvantage, the Park Farm surface was to favour the defensive side.

GHA had plenty of posession inside the Dumfries 22 and yet a number of errors and infringements meant that they failed to convert the opportunities that were there. In the end GHA had to settle for a losing bonus point and despite the narrowness of the loss, this was in fact GHA's heaviest defeat of the season. This brings GHA's season to the half way point and the boys know that if they are to challenge fo the league title this season, they must pick up their performance level and consistency.

GHA's 2nd XV defeated Dumfries 2nds by 16 to 5 with a try scored by Benedict Farrell.

Next week GHA are at home to Morgan FP. Kick Off 2pm.

Highlights from GHA's 66 to 7 win over Perthsire.