With the clocks springing forward and the hopefully more light at the end of this lockdown tunnel, lets see where memory lane takes us this week as we continue to yearn for days of Saturday club rugby.

The first Saturday of April has not been fruitful for GHA; with no wins from nine games. As memory lane returns to Dumbreck for the second week in a row, we remember one the most notable losses this weekend has served up over the years. It is 2006 and the Southside rivals are facing off in a BT Cellnet Scottish Cup Quarter-Final, the furthest GHA have ever reached in the national cup. Unfortunately Cartha continued their dominance in the fixture and smashed GHA’s dreams of a day out at Murrayfield.

CUP DREAMS SMASHED BY SOUTHSIDE RIVALS

GHA RFC MATCH 96: CARTHA QUEENS PARK RFC 22 – 5 GHA RFC 

2005/2006: Scottish Cup Quarter-Final

Cartha QP coach Kenny Murray revealed he will quit the club at the end of the season – even if their amazing BT Cup run ends with them lifting the trophy.

Murray explained: “My new job as a rugby development officer means I won’t be able to devote enough time to the team. I wouldn’t want to keep doing it if I couldn’t give it 100 per cent.” The home outfit made the running from the outset, but it took them until the 18th minute to turn superiority into points through a try by hooker Tom Gray.

Andy Black slotted the conversion – and followed up with a penalty before Tony Nyangweso crossed for the second try. GHA briefly rallied after the restart when hooker Des Ziolo touched down but Damien Chaney’s try, with Black adding the two points, eased Cartha into the semi-finals.

GHA coach Roddy Moir conceded: “When it came to taking chances, Cartha were much more efficient than us .”

Source: The Scotsman, Monday 3rd April 2006