HILLHEAD/JORDANHILL 17pts FALKIRK 13pts

In a game which ebbed and flowed throughout its whole 80 minutes, “Hills” overcame a half time deficit of 13 pts to 6, to pip visitors, Falkirk, by one try and four penalty goals to one goal, one drop goal and one penalty goal in a thoroughly entertaining game at Hughenden.  The extent of the fluctuations in the territorial domination were such that Falkirk , thanks to their quicksilver no. 10, David Adamson, were in charge in the opening exchanges to be followed by the “Hills” camping in the Falkirk twenty two for most of the first quarter but failing to score; and then being overtaken by the fifteen man game of Falkirk which in the second quarter threatened to take the game away from “Hills” with man mountain David Jamieson displaying neat ball skills to score his side’s try. The visitors looked like extending their half time lead in the opening passages of play in the second half,  but failed to take their chances; and thereby let “Hills” back in to move to within two points of Falkirk,  thanks to a try from replacement wing, Robbie “ Angel” Williamson who hopped, stepped and jumped past a bemused Falkirk defence to score in the corner.  Unrelenting pressure from the “Hills” pack,  who overcame the bigger visiting pack by sheer spirit and endeavour, engineered several attacking field positions to pile pressure on Falkirk.  The reliable Angus Twaddle added a third penalty goal to his first half  brace to nudge his side one point ahead with ten minutes left.  A wonderful attacking position in front of the Falkirk posts, created by driving play from Joe Stafford, Duncan McCartney and Nick McAuley, put the volatile home no.10 Cameron McCulloch in the pocket to drop a goal,  but his effort slid narrowly past.  Still the “Hills” attacked a tiring Falkirk team, and eventually the pressure told when the visitors conceded a breakdown penalty close to the touchline some 20 metres from their try line.    “Cometh the hour, cometh the man” and for a second consecutive week, the metronomic right boot of the “ginger” Twaddle swung true to take his team into a 17 pts to 13 winning score.  The sounding of the admirable Gus Tweedale’s final whistle provoked unrestrained scenes of joy as the “Hills” players embraced, having defeated one of the Clubs fancied to take one of the top four places after the league split on the 30th October.

This was a high octane game,  which had much to commend it to both sets of supporters.  For Falkirk, the silky ball playing skills of the visiting midfield backs, Adamson and McAllister, the athleticism and box kicking of visiting scrum half, Bruce, and the tough forward play of Gibson were prominent.  But Falkirk will have rued their profligacy with the ball, which saw them scorn a three man overlap at the start of the second half when it looked easier to score than not, and then witness the evaporation of their kicking skills, both from hand and for goal.  “Hills” had heroes and leaders in plenty.  Stuart Rose was at times a one man trapeze artist with his work on the touchlines,  where he was a model of consistency and even stole an opposition throw.  Centres, Archie Miller and Dan Witko, were sound in defence and occasionally lethal in attack and the former showed his displeasure at a high tackle by raising his game and becoming a constant menace to the opposition.  But the “Hills” captain, Stuart Ross, was again inspirational in his leadership of his side, and could never be disregarded by the visitors. One memorable charge with the ball in hand, after Falkirk restarted 13pts to 14 down, where he drove through bigger and heavier opponents to take his team back into the opposition half will live long in the mind. 

Colin Dickson , Hills co-coach,  was overjoyed at full time: “ This was a great game with lots of running, good handling and off loading from all the players.  I felt that over the 80 minutes we just deserved to win.  It was a great performance from everyone.  Next Saturday, it can’t get much bigger that Edinburgh Accies, and I hope with the appearance of “Mighty Mouse” here at Hughenden, the players and supporters will be inspired.  It promises to be some game.”
 
Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC – Angus Twaddle , Haddon Macpherson  ,  Dan Witko , Archie Miller ,  Andrew Leslie  ( Robbie Williamson ),  Cameron McCulloch, David Armstrong ,Will Goulden ( David Sim ), Joe Stafford,  Nicholas McAuley,  Stuart Rose, Duncan McCartney, ( Christopher Tulloch),  Douglas Crichton , Stuart Ross ( C ),  Cameron Hogg .  Subs. Christopher Craig