Three tries in nine minutes late in the first half ensured GHA of victory against Hillfoots in the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup tie at Tillicoultry on Saturday. A fourth try followed early in the second half, and though that was the end of the scoring it was a satisfactory result in wet and windy conditions.

Jamie Pinder, Dominic Kellock, Rangi Jericevich, and Andrew Rushforth were the try-scorers. Jim Noonan converted the lot.

Hillfoots, however, bothered GHA in the first quarter, especially in one thrust by the midfield pair, Ian Nicolson and Gavin Patterson, and the home team also scored first with an Andrew Hamilton penalty goal in 21 minutes. But the GHA response was swift and decisive with a Rushforth break for Niall Cassie to link for Pinder’s try.

A Noonan kick through prompted a GHA surge into the right corner, where Kellock scored, and the next try was the best off all. Noonan’s precise offload sent Cassie away from inside the GHA half, and Jericevich finished off from 45 metres out. Cassie was also involved in the fourth try, his hack ahead setting up a chase in which Rushforth won the race.

Soon afterwards Cassie joined Pinder and Adam McCormick in the touchline injury list, and by then the weather had turned from bad to dreadful, and the contest slid away with neither side able to string any continuity together.

<b>GHA</b> – Ross McClymont; Rangi Jericevich, Niall Cassie (captain), Andrew Rushforth, Patrick Hilley; Jim Noonan, Andy Boag; Adam McCormick, Joe Coffey, Andrew Kelly, Geoff Warnock, Andrew Williamson, Paul Harkin, Jamie Pinder, Dominic Kellock. Substitutes – Glen King, Murray Longton, Craig Davidson.