JED-FOREST 29pts HILLHEAD/JORDANHILL 32 pts

If this had been a boxing match, the “Hills” corner might just have thrown the white towel into the ring after the first 30 minutes such had been the early dominance of the Jed-forest team which had raced into a commanding 19pts – 3 lead, but such is the spirit and togetherness of this “Hills” team, that they eventually triumphed in the 83rd minute of play by three goals, one try and two penalty goals to three goals, one try and one penalty goal.

The early play was all with the dynamic home side with their no.  8 Gillespie electrically fast off the
scrumbase, and giving his supporting players a consistent target to play off.  The elusive fullback Scott
and the Young twins in the home three quarter line all proved a handful for the “Hills” defence, and the
only consolation to the “Hills” was a penalty goal from Twaddle which took his side onto the scoreboard
but 16 points behind the rampant “Jed” team after some 25 minutes of play.  But from that stage on,  the
 visitors began to exert an improved hold on possession via a strong scrummage, and determined work at
 the breakdown.  The effervescent David Armstrong at scrum half was a source of inspiration to his side
with his tackling and all round field craft,  which created the platform for tight head prop, Will Goulden,
to ghost through a gap close to a ruck and open the scoring for “Hills”.  Twaddle converted, and from the
restart kick, Stuart Rose gathered safely to initiate  a sweeping  move over 65 metres which featured a
wonderful dummy from no. 10, Cameron McCulloch, and  the ball travelling through six pairs of hands,
before David Armstrong applied the finishing touch to score a breathtaking try, which Twaddle converted
to put his side right back into the game at 19pts-17 down.   This stirred the home team into some action,
but the best that they could achieve was a penalty goal from Scott to take his side to 22pts to 17 ahead  at
the break.

The first half had been played a breakneck speed with the Jed team seemingly anxious to try to score tries
 at will from first or second phase  ball from anywhere in the field.  The supply of ball, however, began
to dry up for the home side such was the increasing influence of the bulky “Hills” ball carriers, Joe
“Bonecrusher” Stafford, David Sim and impact player Duncan McCartney, in the loose and at the
breakdown.  The “Hills” relied on making  ground via their forwards while “Jed” persisted in their
attempt to play a wide game, but it was the visitors who made the next telling contribution to the contest.
The chance came from a clearance kick from Hill for “Jed” who appeared to have removed any imminent danger for his team by  taking play to the half way line, but he had reckoned without the counter attacking skills of full back Angus Twaddle.  The no. 15 took off  like a scalded cat, and weaved his way past some six “Jed” players before setting up a ruck on the home twenty two. Just one further phase of attacking play allowed Cameron McCulloch to run a smart diagonal line through the splintered home defence to touch down in the corner, and tie the scores at 22pts all.  “Hills” were now in the ascendancy, excelling at the breakdown to deny the home side any useful possession at all, and it was no surprise when hooker Joe Stafford added to his side’s score by touching down close to the posts from more cohesive driving play.  Twaddle converted and with just eight minutes of play left “Hills” were now seven points ahead of “Jed”, having from the 25th minute scored 26 points to only 3 conceded.

The final few minutes of the game were played in increasing tension with both sets of supporters urging their players on.  It took the “Jed” captain, Goodfellow at scrum half, to rally his troops, decline a kick at goal in the “Hills” twenty two, and keep the ball alive, before finally wriggling over from close range to score his side’s fourth try and allow Scott an easy conversion to bring the scores level.  The final three minutes were pure theatre with both sides going out for the winner with “Jed” desperately trying to get out of their half, but being thwarted constantly by an aggressive and unrelenting “Hills” defence.  When the break came,  it was controversial,  as referee Malcolm  Gray picked up “Jed” for crossing in midfield and awarded “Hills” a penalty some 35 metres from the posts.  Up stepped, the flame haired Angus Twaddle who kept his nerve to pilot the ball between the posts and thereby, with the last kick of the game, win  the game for his team.   A tremendous game of club rugby ended with eight tries being scored, and “Hills” leaving Riverside with five league points and “Jed” having to be content with a consolation two.

Grant Sweenie , Hills co-coach,  was full of praise for his team at full time: “ We were in danger of being blown away in the first half but all credit to the boys. They never gave up,  came back strongly  and took the game to Jed.  That is two Border scalps in consecutive matches, but next week we have to step up again against Falkirk at Hughenden.  There are no easy games in this league, and we have to carry this commitment forward. ”
 
Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC – Angus Twaddle , Haddon Macpherson  ,  Dan Witko , David Paterson ( Archie Miller),  Andrew Leslie ,  Cameron McCulloch, David Armstrong ,David Sim , Joe Stafford , Will Goulden,  Stuart Rose, Christopher Tulloch ( Duncan McCartney ),  Douglas Crichton , Stuart Ross ( C ), Douglas Wood ( Cameron Hogg ) .  Subs. Fraser Paul