GHA RFC MATCH 149: MUSSELBURGH RFC 32 – 0 GHA RFC
2008/2009: Scottish Premiership Two
MUSSELBURGH RFC |
|
GHA RFC| D. O’Hagan | 15 | A. Rushforth |
| Doig | 14 | R. Jericevich |
| 13 | C. Samushonga | |
| 12 | M. Dunn | |
| 11 | R. O’Keefe | |
| Clark | 10 | J. Noonan |
| 9 | A. Gillman | |
| G. Hume | 1 | |
| Walker | 2 | |
| G. Talac | 3 | |
| Walker | 4 | R. Jenkins |
| 5 | A. Williamson | |
| 6 | P. Harkins | |
| 7 | A. Boag | |
| 8 | ||
| Sutherland | 16 | |
| Rezo | 17 | |
| Wells | 18 | |
| Grant | 19 | |
| Maltman (2), O’Hagan (2), Walker | Try | |
| Clark (2) | Con | |
| Clark | Pen | |
| DG | ||
| Referee | ||
| C. Brett (Edinburgh RS) | ||
Braveheart Burgh showed the necessary grit and determinatino to record their first Premiership 2 win of the season after losing the previous four matches.
After early GHA pressure, Musselburgh counter attacked and the home hooker Walker raced over for a try that Clark converted. Clark added another penalty before a movement at speed produced another try on 30 minutes – Musselburgh spoiled GHA lineout and Leitch gave to the big men who pushed forward. The ball was moved for O’Hagan to make the score 15-0. The conversion just failed.
Sutherland replaced Hume in the home front row as Burgh looked to drive home their superiority. The home pack were producing fine ball for the eager backs. Burgh second row Walker received a yellow card with five minutes remaining of the first half. He was joined on the touchline by visiting fly-half Noonan two minutes later. GHA kicked the ball out on the full as referee Brett blew for half-time.
Porteous and Sutherland were replaced by Rezo and Hume in Burgh colours. But Porteous returned early in the second period for the cut and bloodied Whelan.
Musselburgh drove from an early lineout and Shapland made a break. They then had a scrum for a squint lineout throw which Maltman gave to the half-backs. They set up O’Hagan and the number 15 brought Porteous and Clark into play, who won a penalty.
Wells entered the fray for Chapman as Burgh won a scrum. GHA spoiled and spread ball to Jericevich but the home side won a not-releasing penalty. Shapland found touch and the pack pushed forward. Musselburgh won a lineout seven metres out. Maltman took ball and powered over to give his side a 20 point advantage. But the conversion went wide.
GHA then had their best five minutes of the match. But the Burgh defence held firm. O’Hagan broke out on the counter-attack as Burgh hit back. The ball sped through hands and a penalty was won five metres out. Maltman picked up and nipped through to touch down under the sticks. Clark converted to make it 27-0 to the home side.
Grant came on for Urquhart as Burgh won a scrum from the kick-off. They were given a scrum for a GHA lineout throw that wasn’t straight as Sutherland replaced Talac. A burgh tap penalty saw Wells make a break before Burgh spoiled a GHA lineout. The ball was then moved quickly along the line to Doig. The winger fed O’Hagan who outpaced the visitors defence to score the final points with 10 minutes left. GHA looked for a consolation score, but a confident Burgh defence held firm.
Source: East Lothian Courier, Wednesday 1st October 2008
