GHA RFC MATCH 239: GHA RFC 32 – 20 WEST OF SCOTLAND FC
2012/2013: Scottish Championship A
GHA RFC |
|
WEST OF SCOTLAND FC| T. Jericevich | 15 | M. Sim |
| R. Jericevich | 14 | S. Hunter |
| H. O’Hare | 13 | R. McAulay |
| (c) A. Henderson | 12 | S. Malone |
| C. Binnie | 11 | F. Cuthbertson |
| C. Sorbie | 10 | A. Fisken |
| A. Gillman | 9 | H. Russell |
| S. Spowart | 1 | P. Rhodes |
| J. Malcolm | 2 | I. Henderson |
| M. Kidd | 3 | B. Fulton |
| R. Jenkins | 4 | J. Walker |
| J. Auld | 5 | C. Morrison |
| D. Malcolm | 6 | A. Thomson |
| D. Kellock | 7 | J. McAulay |
| A. Auld | 8 | J. Cuthbertson |
| S. Gallacher | 16 | A. Burke |
| D. Larkin | 17 | R. Carnegie |
| P. Harkins | 18 | A. Ritchie |
| D. Dunn | 19 | N. Fullarton |
| R. Jericevich (2), T. Jericevich, O’Hare | Try | Henderson, Morrison, TBC |
| T. Jericevich (3) | Con | |
| T. Jericevich (2) | Pen | |
| DG | ||
| Referee | ||
| Mr D. McClement | ||
GHA made it three wins out of three after a derby day 32-20 win against the West of
Scotland at Braidholm. Not only did GHA maintain their 100 per cent start to the season but they also picked up another winning bonus point to give them a maximum 15 points out of 15 from their first three games.
In what has been a theme of the first 3 games of the season so far, GHA started this game in fine form, racing out to a 19 – 0 lead before letting West back into the game with a series of errors and missed tackles.
GHA’s tries were scored by Rangi Jericevich(2), Hefin O’Hare and Tane Jericevich, with Tane also kicking two penalties and 3 conversions. West of Scotland looked down and out after 20 minutes but continued to fight and were rewarded with 4 tries of their own.
GHA’s first score came from turnover ball, Rangi Jericevich and Andrew Henderson worked some nice interplay up the right hand touchline before Jericevich dived over in the corner to score. GHA’s second was from a scrum 5 metres out from the West line. GHA Number 8 Alan Auld went up the blind side passing to scrum half Andrew Gillman whose quick hands allowed Jericevich to score his second in the corner.
The third was started with a quick tap by GHA fly half Craig Sorbie, who broke throught the West defence before feeding to Jericevich. An offload out of the tackle was scooped up by Hefin O’Hare who fended off the scrambling defender to score. With 20 minutes on the clock, GHA supporters would’ve been delighted with the start and surely a convincing performance was on the cards. Not so, despite adding a further 3 points with a penalty by full back Tane Jericevich, it was West who finished the first half the stronger thanks to some poor tackling from GHA.
The second half was a stale affair. West played with the majority of possession and territory, scoring two tries to GHA’s one. The bonus point try for GHA was the highlight of the half for the home team. Clean line out ball allowed Andrew Henderson to make inroads in the mid-field before quick ball allowed Sorbie to break through. He drew the full back and gave the scoring pass to Tane Jericevich who was one of several players in support. Tane also added the conversion as well as a further penalty which effectively sealed the game but the battling West players mounted a strong come back to score their two tries and a well deserved bonus point.
Head Coach Gordon MacPherson was not only pleased with the victory but also by beating a
team who were in a higher division last season. He said:
“We started really well played quality rugby and got up by three scores. Then we let
them score just before half time. And that happened throughout the game and to be fair to West of Scotland they had some opportunities to make the game closer than it actually was. It is always pleasing to beat teams who come down from the higher divisions. It is always a big test because they have obviously played at a higher level.”
GHA couldn’t have wished for a better start to the season and Head Coach Gordon
MacPherson is delighted to have started the season so well. He said:
“We would have wanted that start. I think the two teams no disrespect to Dunfermline and Dalziel they are probably not going to be in the run for the title. And West of Scotland has lost their last three games and are finding it tough. We have made the perfect start in terms of points on the board and now it is improving the type of rugby and the quality of our game.”
Next up GHA face Ardrossan Academicals away from home and will be looking to maintain
their winning start to the season.
However Head Coach Gordon MacPherson is expecting a tough test. He said:
“They are a good side and are really well organised. They are a really difficult team
to beat at home. The last time we were down there it probably took us 70 minutes to get ahead by a couple of scores. And it took us 70-75 minutes before we managed to get on top of them.”
In other action, GHA’s 2nd XV continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 46-12 win over their West counterparts. GHA’s U18s also scored a narrow league win over Kilmarnock and the Gazelles defeated Cartha to make it a perfect day for the Braidholm sides.
Source: Bill McMurtrie & David Coates
