ARNOLD CLARK PREMIERSHIP
SATURDAY 6th SEPTEMBER 2025
GHA 41 KELS0 27
By Chris Nairn
Following last Saturday’s sensational last-minute drama, the Braidholm faithful arrived on Saturday wondering if we would witness another such moment. Kelso arrived following their victory in the fierce Border rivalry match with Hawick, so GHA knew that they faced a very competent side. It was a busy clubhouse with our well-attended lunch, where a number of the Famous Gazelles were in attendance and a full card of home matches. The weather seemed to suggest sunny intervals and little chance of rain, although there was a wind factor to consider for the players which was blowing across the pitch. The pitch was in very good condition being springy and retaining lots of its summer growth. The squad are running a player’s lottery to raise funds to further improve the facilities available at Braidholm. This reflects the squad’s attitude of being determined to do all they can to improve conditions (with much appreciated support from the club members) for the players and coaching staff.
Both sides prepared fully with GHA working on unit execution of key basics and loosening exercises before coming together to run simulations. By interesting contrast, Kelso seemed to do a great deal of their pretty intense preparation as a squad with very well-drilled routines and exercises- an indication that Kelso knew full well that GHA intended to provide a stiff test. Both sides like to run the ball, so the crowd looked forward to a physical battle laced with some attacking rugby with ball in hand. Our guard of honour was provided by members of the Primary 6 cohort of the Junior section.
The outstanding Charlie Lonergan led the home side on to the pitch as recognition of his superb one hundredth appearance for GHA. Charlie is a formidable line breaker and excellent player, and he is forming an impressive new partnership with the talented Michael Hughes at centre. Both Glen Little and Caleb Thomson on the wing and full-back Drummond provide a clever and brave back line capable of penetrating opponents rearguard.
The home side kicked off with a short and high testing ball into Kelso ranks with the home side engaging Kelso and forcing play into the Kelso twenty-two. The visitors managed to clear but GHA responded with an up and under kick which Andrew Goudie secured amongst a surprised Kelso defence. The visitors responded by engulfing the GHA probe and play moved to the Kelso ten metre line. A scrum ensued in which the home side managed to hold firm against a heavier pack and a nice break by Charlie Lonergan was stopped. The home side recycled the ball and some very clever close handling, especially by Ruari Campbell, forced Kelso on to their five metre area. Michael Fox gathered the ball and drove accurately into the retreating Kelso pack before the ball was released to allow some lovely passing between Messrs Goudie and Lonergan. The ball went loose but again GHA seized on the loose ball and Messrs Baird, Hughes and Drummond showed some supreme dexterity as they inter-passed under severe pressure before, in desperation, the visitors conceded a penalty. GHA kicked to the corner. A lovely take by Jonathon Davis allowed the home side to drive at the Kelso pack, who had very limited room to move such was the pressure from the GHA. Ruari Campbell got the vital touch down to give GHA an early lead. Gregor Drummond in his fascinating kicking style secured the conversion from far out to make the score after five minutes: GHA 7 KELSO 0.
It had been something of a whirlwind start by the home side, and it is to the credit of the visitors that they steadied themselves so quickly after this setback and took the game to GHA. From the restart, Kelso forced GHA to defend deep in their own half and as the ball went loose, the Borderers hacked through before the menacing and highly effective Bruce McNeil scooped the ball up and drove forward. Kelso worked the ball into a favoured position and Bruce McNeil (who would trouble the home side all afternoon) drove over to score. The conversion from quite far out failed and the score after ten minutes: GHA 7 KELSO 5.
Kelso had with this riposte made it very clear that they were not going to allow the home side to dominate easily. From the restart GHA went long and high trying to force the visitors into a defensive mind set. However, Kelso returned the kick with interest. On receipt of the ball inside the GHA ten metre area, the home side moved the ball with speed and accuracy as they attacked the Kelso defence. Again, some lovely inter-passing between forwards and backs, by an increasingly confident GHA side, forced Kelso to defend in numbers and allowed GHA to maintain pressure. However, as we passed the thirteenth minute the Kelso lads showed great calmness and confidence and having nullified the attacking efforts of the home side began – through the promptings of Messrs Tweedie and Herdman- to ask questions of the GHA defence as play moved swiftly into the GHA half. It was now the home side who found themselves on the back foot as carefully executed drives by Messrs Billy McNeil and Jones moved the Borderers into striking distance. As we reached the twentieth minute the carefully choreographed driving by Kelso allowed William Tweedie to burst through GHA tackles and go over to score- to loud acclaim from the visiting support. The try was converted, and the score was now: GHA 7 KELSO 12.
Neither side had managed to gain control of the match and some excellent teamwork by both sides had resulted in scores for either side. As was beginning to emerge, it was now the home side’s turn to attack with determination and force the Kelso team back into their half. Indeed, a scintillating move- as GHA forwards released quick ball to the ever eager and threatening home backs- saw a huge opportunity lost as a decisive break by the GHA back line of short accurate passing cut through a startled Kelso rearguard only for the ball to go loose with the line gaping. The outstanding Bruce McNeil gathered the ball in and set up a drive for the visitors, but this was matched by a ferocious surge from the home forwards who won the ball back. Both sides exchanged penalties and attempted to find territory with searching kicks, but as we moved towards the half hour mark the home side were awarded another penalty and from a kick to the corner and resulting catch and drive, Sean Callaghan burst through the desperate Kelso defence to score to loud cheers of appreciation from the home support. Gregor Drummond- from a difficult angle- kicked the conversion to make the score at the half hour mark: GHA 12 KELSO 12.
This was developing into a very close, keenly contested match with skill and tenacity allied to fierce determination amongst both sets of players to try and take the honours. Kelso restarted but alive to the onrushing Kelso forwards, the home side put the ball straight out of play which gave the Kelso pack an attacking position on halfway. The home side managed to win the scrum and force play back into Kelso defensive area. GHA were asking questions of the Kelso defence and, following a concerted drive by the home side forwards, managed to get the ball over the line to score. The conversion just failed, and the score was now: GHA 17 KELSO 12.
The Borderers were not about to accept this setback for long and from the restart sheer physical power and talent forced GHA to defend inside their own half. A penalty was conceded and the talented Dwain Patterson converted to make the score after nearly thirty-five minutes: GHA 17 KELSO 15.
Neither side was able to dominate the match, and the close score reflected a bruising and fast paced match. As we passed the thirty-fifth minute the home side produced a moment of magic as Andrew Goudie feinted and swerved through the Kelso defence with close support from Messrs Little, Lonergan, Hughes and Thomson making yardage into the Kelso half before Kelso closed down the break and cleared the danger back up to their ten metre line. However, with a lovely catch and drive the home side took the ball into a drive position, and physically forced the visitors on to the back foot making yardage at the same time- to great roars of encouragement from the home support. At the critical moment the ball was released to allow Messrs Goudie, Lonergan and Ewing to draw the Kelso defence and allow the ever alert George Baird to bound through a narrow gap and score. The try was converted and the score as we reached the half time whistle was GHA 24 KELSO 15.
It had been a fascinating half with a combination of sheer physical power allied to incisive accurate support play from both sides, providing a close and keenly contested half.
Kelso opened the second half with a long kick which was expertly gathered by Oscar Lonergan-Black, who took the ball into contact in his half. Whilst George Baird managed to relieve the danger, Kelso mounted a well organised attack on halfway with Messrs Law, McNeil and Thompson making yardage. As play moved toward the GHA twenty-two a long pass from the Kelso attack failed to find Border hands and went loose. A scrum allowed the home side to gather their thoughts after this swift penetration from Kelso. The visitors seemed to wish to increase the pace of the match, and the home side would require to be aware that this match was finely balanced. There was an exchange of speculative kicks from both sides with play not really moving from the ten metre areas as we passed the fourth minute of the half. Suddenly the home side seized on one such kick and began to move into Kelso territory. Once again superb linkage from Messrs Goudie, Little, Lonergan and Thomson- following a fabulous low ball pick up by Michael Hughes- managed to break the Kelso rearguard and a clever spin through the tackle by Glen Little allowed GHA to increase their lead. Another impressive conversion by Gregor Drummond stretched the lead by a further two points and the score after six minutes of the half was: GHA 31 KELSO 15.
This setback gave the home side just a little breathing space in what was a very keenly contested match. The ability of the home side to seize on opportunities and clinically finish was causing Kelso concern and perhaps caused them to hesitate slightly on their attacking alignment. There was momentum shown by both sides as we reached the sixteenth minute of the half with Kelso patiently attempting to force the home side back into a defensive posture. Tremendous and effective tackling by the home defence was forcing the visitors to continually switch their approach to try and find an overlap as GHA committed themselves to the tackle. Kelso were awarded a penalty inside the GHA twenty-two area and a kick to the corner, catch and drive allowed Bruce McNeil with the pack in support to drive over and score. The conversion from a difficult angle just failed and the score was now: GHA 31 KELSO 20.
We were approaching the last quarter of the match and both sides renewed their efforts to achieve a measure of control. Effective progress from a clever and well drilled visiting side was consistently blunted by tremendous tackling by the home side. From the restart the GHA forwards scampered after the ball far into Kelso territory. The visitors attempted to clear the danger, but an attempted clearance was gathered by Oscar Lonergan-Black and seconds later a clever kick through was gathered by Luke McCutcheon who had burst through the Kelso defence. Luke sped for the line and scored. The conversion narrowly failed and the score after just over twenty minutes of the second half was: GHA 36 KELSO 20.
Such rapid seizure of opportunities by the home side is becoming a feature of GHA play this season and reflects an impressive level of concentration and game awareness from all the squad. It also means that opponents have to be constantly aware of the GHA ability to pounce on opportunity. The next few minutes were characterised by some thrilling and highly effective play by the visitors who were desperate to reduce the leeway. Nicky Thompson was yellow carded for an infringement which meant a player advantage to Kelso. Only outstanding defensive tackling and support play by GHA held Kelso out even on the GHA goal line at several points over this period.
As we moved towards the thirtieth minute of the half Kelso got a well-deserved reward after nearly six minutes of sustained pressure by a forward drive over the line to score. The try was converted and with just under ten minutes left the score was now: GHA 36 KELSO 27.
Despite Kelso desires it was the home side who found yet another period of strength and movement personified by Michael Fox- who gathered the ball and carefully worked his way into the Kelso half, with welcome support from his fellow forwards. However, progress was stopped and a scrum given. The home side won the scrum, and the ball was quickly moved inside the Kelso twenty-two with Charlie Lonergan creating a hole through which to move and go over and score to great applause from the home support. The conversion failed and the score with five minutes left of the match was: GHA 41 KELSO 27. The last few minutes saw Kelso trying desperately to break the home defence to gain a bonus point but just failing to break down the stubborn and concentrated home defence. The final score was: GHA 41 KELSO 27.
This had been a very competitive match with neither side able to achieve any lasting period of dominance. GHA provided some very skilful interplay aligned to a physical determination not to be found wanting in any aspect of the match. Coach Calum was delighted with the overall play of the squad and looks forward to what will be a huge match next week away to Selkirk which offers GHA the possibility of victory over all four Border sides!
KELSO : A.BARBOUR D.PATTERSON A.HALL A.UTTERSON J.THOMPSON L.HERDMAN W.TWEEDIE G.SHIELS H.ROSS D.GAMBLE G.LAW C.THOMPSON BILLY McNEIL. W.JONES BRUCE McNEIL E.KNOX A.McGREGOR C.CORCORAN A.TAIT N.STINGI E.THOMPOSON M.JACKSON
GHA: G.DRUMMOND C.THOMSON C.LONERGAN M.HUGHES G.LITTLE A.GOUDIE G.BAIRD S.COLLINS R.CAMPBELL M.FOX J.DAVIS S.CALLAGHAN O.LONERGAN-BLACK D.EWING L.MCCUTCHEON
L.BARRON L.HODGE C.MacGREGOR H.BLACKIE E.McKIRDY A. BOGIDRAU N.THOMPSON
REFEREE: MR D YOUNG
ASSISTANTS REFEREES: MR C SAMSON MR V ANDERSON
Thanks to Mr Ian Robin for provision of match officials
