NATIONAL LEAGUE 1
SATURDAY MARCH 1st 2025
GHA 76 DUNDEE RUGBY 12
By CHRIS NAIRN
I hope Maximus will forgive me for adapting the battle cry of the Roman Legions as my tribute to the outstanding efforts of the GHA first XV playing squad, coaching and support staff which have secured Championship success in a breathtaking achievement worthy of its place among the greatest accomplishments of GHA RFC
PLAYED 18 – WON 17- DRAWN 1 – LOST 0
Saturday at Braidholm would have been a very special day irrespective of titles and Championships as it was the 500th time a GHA representative 1XV has taken the field. We are fortunate to have the statistical and historical skills of Sean Fisher to maintain the accuracy of our records. The large expectant and excited crowd arrived to find our beloved Braidholm transformed into an area of bright Marquees and Gazebos, and the lilting sound of a piper welcoming all to the day. The area around the pitch resembled a medieval jousting tournament with its splash of colour and activity.
The League had been secured the previous week, as our nearest challengers had lost, which meant that GHA entered this match unfettered by worries of slip-ups or reversals. The pitch- which has held up well all season- is now looking a tad threadbare and will need time to repair itself after the rigours of a very demanding season. An overcast day did not bother the crowd although there was a slight chill in the air. A packed lunch was as usual superbly organised and marshalled by the brilliant Kate Finlay. Each placing received an attractive and informative souvenir Match Day Programme. Demand for a placing resulted in the creation of an overspill area into our other lounge. The event allowed President Gordon Adams and colleagues to address the significance of the achievement of Championship success. There was also a very nice touch when a number of those who contribute to Saturday at Braidholm received a very much appreciated gift. Our main sponsors CORUM were rightly praised for their superb support for the club.
A striking feature of the lunch and indeed of the conduct of all at Braidholm throughout the afternoon was the total lack of any vulgar show boating or arrogant disrespect of opponents. Indeed, following the entry of the home side to the playing arena with the superb Williamwood Pipe Band and our junior section providing a musical and physical guard of honour just before the match, the GHA squad went into a huddle to ensure that all the players were aware of the central importance of delivering a performance in keeping with the standard the players have set all season. All through the preparations both sets of players applied themselves to individual, group and whole team drills. A very busy stand and surrounding environs provided a great backdrop on this special day.
The home side kicked off with a long high searching kick which was fielded by the visitors who immediately from inside their ten-metre area decided to run the ball. Instantly it became obvious that Dundee were not going to go through the motions and served notice that GHA would have to win this match with effort and skill. Dundee soon found that the defence of the home side were equally determined not to allow them any room to progress and won the ball back and Messrs Ewing and Kerr drove with support into the Dundee half. The visitors conceded a penalty well inside their twenty-two metre area and the home side kicked to the corner. The ball was won from their lineout and in a flashing move and a disguised long pass from Andrew Goudie took out the despairing Dundee cover defence to allow Gregor Drummond to go over to loud acclaim. The conversion missed narrowly and the score after five minutes as: GHA 5 DUNDEE 0.
From the restart, the visitors worked hard to win the ball in the loose with Messrs Findlay, O’Hagan and Taylor taking the ball into contact and making yardage. A lovely break out from inside the GHA half by Kieran Ramsay broke through the home defence to great cheers from the Tayside support. However, the move broke down and a penalty was awarded to Dundee inside the GHA twenty-two metre area. An unlucky kick just missed. The greasy surface did not make it easy for goalkicking and such a surface is not really helpful to the application of the modern kicking tee as there is the danger of the support leg slipping in the kickers approach. I would suggest this was to happen to both sides in the afternoon.
GHA soon found themselves moving into Dundee territory and the visitors were not prepared to simply fold out of the way and contested every move and feint by the home side. The home side was beginning to put moves together and what was striking was the fact that there was a huge level of support and organisation to any break all afternoon by GHA. Indeed, on several occasions the recipient of a scoring pass was one of three or four players who could easily have scored. Such teamwork, precision and fitness is the result of hard work and dedication in training.
In a lovely move toward the twelfth minute a great break by GHA tore through the brave Dundee rearguard and allowed the architect of so much of the GHA movement, Andrew Goudie to go through and score. The try was converted, and the score was now: GHA 12 DUNDEE 0. The visitors now found themselves under real pressure as the home side unleashed their intent to win this match. Brave defensive tackling by Dundee could not prevent the waves of GHA players, fully supported keeping the ball alive in the tackle and changing the angle of attack.
Once again a free flowing move by the home side resulted in a rich passing scenario between Messrs Hughes and Goudie, to allow Andrew Goudie to outflank the Dundee cover and go through and score. The try was converted, and the score was after twenty minutes: GHA 19 DUNDEE 0. It would be insulting to suggest that Dundee were offering little opposition to a freewheeling home side. Dundee fought throughout this match with great commitment and resolve and asked questions all afternoon of the GHA defence. They had tireless workers in Messrs Stoops, Taylor and Sturges and the half-back partnership of Findlay and Harley tried all afternoon to press the GHA line.
As we passed the twentieth fifth minute of the match GHA were in control and playing at a level of concentration, support and execution that Dundee were struggling to live with. Once again forceful from play by GHA with constant support play allowed the home side to move deep into the Dundee half before a lovely break by the ever-alert Ben Curtis with support from the excellent Michael Fox broke the Dundee back line and set up a sweet overlap to allow Michael Hughes to go over to score. The conversion just missed and the score as we approached the half hour was: GHA 31 DUNDEE 0.
The visitors rallied from this onslaught and from the restart Messrs Harley, O’Hagan, Mair and Murray forced the home side back into their own half. GHA conceded a penalty, and the visitors kicked to the corner. In a well-executed take and drive, Dundee set up a clever attacking position to allow Grant Harley to scamper over for a deserved score. The conversion failed and there was certainly a spring in the step of the Dundee lads as they turned to face the restart: GHA 31 DUNDEE 5.
As if stung by this reversal GHA flew into the engagement and quickly established territorial control in the Dundee half. Explosive driving by Messrs Fox. Kerr, Hodge, Ewing and McCutcheon unsettled the Dundee defence and following a lovely cameo of interposing between the support players, hardworking and effective Ruaridh Airlie went through to score. Gregor Drummond converted the try and the score after thirty-six minutes was: GHA 38 DUNDEE 5.
A somewhat shell-shocked Dundee side had little time to gather their thoughts as the home side attacked from the restart. Driving play by Sean Callaghan and Adam Kerr took play into the Dundee half before subtle handling of the ball allowed Charlie Lonergan to burst through with support aplenty to score. The try was converted and the score as we reached the interval was: GHA 45 DUNDEE 5.
It had been a pulsating first half. GHA produced some lovely rugby and constantly forced Dundee to defend in their own half. The collective desire from the home side to support and execute was almost too much for a bold Dundee who did all they could to try and stem the progress of the home side.
Dundee opened the second half with a long high probing kick into the GHA twenty-two area. In the resulting contact for the ball the visitors were awarded a penalty for an infringement. Dundee kicked to find territory and from the lineout, they attempted to move toward the GHA line. There they were repulsed by a resolute home defence, which blunted the Dundee attack and became a feature of the second half. Effective defensive tackling on the gain line by GHA has become a precursor for winning ball and setting up lightning thrusts into the heart of the opposition rearguard throughout this season and today was to be no different. Skilled ball handling, securing possession and the talents of Messrs Curtis and the magician Goudie at half-back present a formidable attacking format for GHA.
As we moved past the forty third minute of the half GHA moved in controlled fashion deep inside the Dundee territory. The relentless accurate ball carrying talents of Messrs Airlie, Fox and Hodge- with reinforcements arriving constantly- put Dundee on the back foot. The home side from a scrum following a penalty award saw a cleverly disguised long pass to Glen Little who went over to score. The try was converted, and the score after forty-six minutes was: GHA 52 DUNDEE 5.
Despite the huge deficit in points, the lads from Tayside refused to capitulate and a promising break was adjudged to have been stopped from reaching fruition by a deliberate interference which saw Jack Craig yellow carded. From the penalty inside the GHA twenty-two, the Dundee pack worked the ball towards the try line despite the efforts of the home defence and Cammy Fraser went over to score. The try was converted and there was genuine applause from all present who recognised that the visitors were not prepared to meekly go through the motions, the score was now: GHA 52 DUNDEE 12.
As we moved towards the hour mark, GHA again moved the ball through hands, forcing Dundee to back track and double guess as to where the strike might come from. Despite their best efforts, a superb handling move by a fair number of the home side totally bypassed the Dundee defence and saw Charlie Lonergan score after particularly penetrating work by Messrs Airlie and Goudie. The try was converted and, on the fifty-eighth minute, the score was now: GHA 59 DUNDEE 12.
Play moved back and forth for several minutes with Dundee, due to the intensity and accuracy of the home defence, being forced to crab across the pitch as attempted incursions were cut down. Play came to stop as the result of an altercation between players from both sides. A penalty was awarded to Dundee who kicked up to the GHA ten metre area from the Dundee half. Clearly expecting this to provide a possible attacking position for the visitors, Dundee took the lineout and forced the home side almost back to their five metre area. The GHA pack wrestled possession from Dundee who looked horrified as the home side broke away with Messrs Fox and McCutcheon making yardage into the Dundee half. Charlie Lonergan, providing close support, received the pass and from halfway cleared despairing Dundee cover tackles to score. The conversion failed and after sixty-six minutes the score was now: GHA 64 DUNDEE 12.
The home side were now moving as one and showed no signs of reducing their efforts. As we reached the seventieth minute Scott Plumridge seized on hesitancy in the Dundee rearguard to burst through a channel inside the Dundee twenty-two to go through and score. Gregor Drummond to the delight of the home support converted to make the score GHA 71 DUNDEE 12.
As we moved towards full time, the home side once again secured possession and from inside the Dundee half moved the ball through hands to allow Gregor Drummond to score in the corner. The conversion just failed, and the score was now: GHA 76 DUNDEE 12.
With minutes of the match remaining there was a furious blow up between players on both sides around the halfway line. Two Dundee players were sent off for violent play and the home side were awarded a penalty. It was a pity that this incident happened after what had been such an enjoyable afternoon. GHA pressed until the final whistle, but the Dundee defence held firm. The final score was: GHA 76 DUNDEE 12.
Thus, GHA secured victory and the Championship in style. They had produced a quality performance of attacking rugby played with accuracy, invention and speed. Dundee, despite the score, never gave up and battled throughout the match. The home side accepted their victory with a calm dignity and immediately engaged their opponents in a well-deserved handshake and guard of honour as Dundee left the arena. Only then did the home side- to the delight of a large home support- relax and celebrate an outstanding achievement.
Rugby at this level is very attritional. To go a whole season undefeated in a league with a number of very good club sides, winning very difficult matches, refusing to buckle in matches when under terrific pressure, and to recover in matches when defeat looked likely speaks volumes for the dedication, hard work and skill of the squad and their coaching staff. President Adams and the management and the band of brothers and sisters who contribute to GHA should be rightly proud. This has been a club effort and reflects an attitude where everyone plays their part in the club we love.
We face a new challenge next season and we ALL must be ready to play our part and go again.
DUNDEE RUGBY: E.TAYLOR J.MURRAY O.STOOPS C.O’HAGAN T.WILSON C.FINDLAY G.HARLEY E.TIMMINS K.RAMSAY E.MacDONALD C.FRASER J.MAIR R.BERESFORD R.STURGES B.BEKKER J.SHELLARD J.McINTOSH R.HUTTON A.HAMILTON
GHA: G.DRUMMOND G.LITTLE C.LONERGAN M.HUGHES J.CRAIG A.GOUDIE B.CURTIS S.COLLINS R.CAMPBELL M. FOX A.KERR S.CALLAGHAN R.AIRLIE D.EWING L.McCUTCHEON L.BARRON L.HODGE S.PLUMRIDGE G.BAIRD F.McCOSS
REFEREE : MR G REID
ASSISTANT REFEREES : MR M GALLOWAY MR R MCHUGH
Photography: Joyce & Colin Robinson
