A View from the Touchline – BT Premier League: 3.2.18.

Glasgow Hawks 12 pts (t 2, c 1) v Currie Chieftains 25 pts (t 3, c 2, pg 2)

With an afternoon of International rugby on the TV, none but the most dedicated club supporter would venture out on this damp grey February day to watch ‘live’ rugby. So it was little surprise to see only a handful of spectators on the back pitches at Anniesland; and most of them had travelled from Currie! They were rewarded with a tight physical contest that ebbed and flowed as the Glasgow traffic on the surrounding suburban road network in west of the City. The Chieftains eventually stretched away from the early Hawks lead, but a further try and late Hawks pressure had the visitors at ‘action-stations’ until the final whistle.

What a pity more people were not at this important rearranged League fixture, which also made you ask ‘how on earth can a semi-professional set-up survive with such scant interest and meagre gate receipts? The game was not a classic, but it bubbled with commitment and intrigue, and the result would have a significant bearing at either end of the Premiership table. For various reasons, both teams had to make a number of positional changes; Currie blooded three young new exciting backs – David Hall, Angus Paton and Archie MacLean, and Hawks had backs playing in their pack and a surfeit of hookers playing where required; they all coped admirably and added to the occasion.

Currie applied some early pressure with quality positional kicking through the accurate boot of Jamie Forbes, who also added two penalty goals before he had to retire with an injury, as halftime approached. Hawks were finding it difficult to get into Chieftains’ territory, and fifteen minutes had passed before they managed to put any meaningful attack together; when they did it ripped Currie apart. A flowing move with some tremendous inter-passing culminated in a try for Brendan McGroarty; Scott Peffers converted and Hawks were on a high. Although Currie continued to press, a combination of niggling little mistakes and aggressive Hawks tackling turned the contest into a bit of a mid-field wrestling match. Michael Vernel, Vince Wright and Rhys Davies put in some hefty hits which prevented opposition ball-carriers from making too much ground. Just on halftime it looked as if the Chieftains had scored, but after the officials consulted, the try was disallowed.

Halftime score – Hawks 7 pts, Currie Chieftains 6 pts.

Towards the end of the first half it was noticeable that Currie had made a gear-shift, and this continued as the second period got under way. The Currie scrum looked strong throughout the match and when they were awarded a penalty fifteen metres out, the kick at goal looked a formality. This missed opportunity could have been a turning point; the dogged Hawks defence were justifiably delighted with their efforts and the Chieftains’ misfortune. Charlie Shiel’s marshalling and quick distribution spurred the visitors to greater intensity which finally broke through the Hawks’ brick wall defence; Michael Vernel, a work-horse in the Currie pack, crashed over, and Charlie Shiel had no problem with the more difficult kick this time.

For the next twenty minutes Currie kept possession and charged towards the Hawks line incessantly. Hamish Bain, Steven Ainslie, Graham Carson and Andrew (AP) McWilliam went close, but with Scott McGinley and Thomas Gordon linking in the back line, it was not long before Archie McLean accelerated 15 metres for a well-taken try; again Charlie Shiel’s conversion kick was perfect. The visitors’ purple patch continued with stunning breaks from Thomas Gordon and Robbie Nelson who was tackled just short of the line, but his pass to Angus Paton saw the wing dive in at the corner for a try that was not converted.

The Hawks’ resolve never faltered, and they still kept knocking over the Currie ball-carriers deep in the red-zone. For the most part they found it difficult to break out and threaten at the other end, but when their lively scrumhalf, James Couper did get away he caused panic; although superbly caught by the speedy Thomas Gordon, who was then carded for preventing release, Hawks ran the ball with style and panache. Despite heroic tackling from David Hall, Robbie Nelson and Fergus Scott; Erland Oag was not to be denied. His try was not converted but Hawks were now playing attacking expansive rugby, and looked odds-on to bag another score for the losing bonus point; it didn’t happen and Currie held out for an important hard-won victory. Mention should be made of Kris Burney and all of his front row colleagues who are contributing to a firm platform from which the Chieftains can advance. In two weeks time Currie play Marr at Malleny Park; KO 2.30pm. Come along and see a top class ‘live’ rugby match. I.J.S, 4.2.18.

Image - © Craig Watson - www.craigwatson.co.uk