Hillhead/Jordanhill 30pts  Biggar  18pts

Despite lots of effort from both sides on a very well prepared New Anniesland playing surface, this game never had sufficient passages of continuity rugby to keep the spectators fully focused for the whole 80 minutes; and in the end “Hills” managed to pull through by virtue of the consistent penalty goal kicking of full back Angus Twaddle who collected twenty points from six successful kicks and the conversion of Cammy McCulloch’s try,  with Nick McAuley the other scorer.

The game started well enough with Biggar in command, but an uncharacteristic Parker penalty miss allowed “Hills” back into the game with “Hills” stand-off Cammy McCulloch anxious to run the ball at the opposition.  Neither side was able to dominate for any length of time with the structure of the game continually suffering from play which was at times too lateral and dominated by handling errors.  Parker redeemed himself by stroking over a fine penalty from 40 metres, but Twaddle soon edged his side in front again when they benefited from the quick thinking McCulloch who took a quick tap penalty and caused Biggar to concede a ruck penalty.   In a rare flash of inspiration, the visitors pieced together four phases of play to provide Lavery with good field position to drop a fine goal, but the resilient Twaddle did not have to wait long to kick his next goal to have his team three points ahead after 30 minutes.  This stirred Biggar into action and some excellent interplay between backs and forwards gave Jason Kelly sufficient room to run over for a fine try.   “Hills” reacted with Archie Miller pressuring the visitors’ defence  and Gus Twaddle galloping  from the back to cause some considerable panic in the Biggar team which led to an offence at the resultant breakdown and the first of the two yellow cards for the visitors.  Gus Twaddle kicked the penalty and “Hills” reached the turn 12pts to 11 ahead.

The second half meandered along in much the same way as the first with brief flashes of fine play with Andy Leslie showing pace on the wing following Joe Stafford’s aggressive run out of defence and fine offload.  Yet there was much “huffing and puffing” from both sides,  and it was only from McCulloch’s continued inventiveness at stand off that “Hills” made any progress with the no.10 touching down between the posts to allow Twaddle an easy conversion.    The full back added his fifth penalty goal, and after a spell of hammering on the visitors line Nick McAuley, prominent in open play with the ball throughout,  barrelled his way over to take his side virtually out of sight at 27pts to 11 with some ten minutes left.    Biggar to their credit came back spiritedly towards the end,   and scored a deserved try through Salou which Parker goaled easily, but the final act of the game was left to the “Irn Bru”  boy who kicked his sixth penalty goal to take his side home 30 pts -18 winners.  

Outstanding for the “Hills” was captain for the day, Stuart Rose, who gave a copybook performance in fielding opposition kick-offs and was Mr. Dependable on the touchline.

“Hills” co-coach, Colin Dickson,  reported at the end : “ We kept going well as Biggar were stuffy competitors.  We suffered because some of our players were still stiff and sore after the “Jed” game and we now have a week off  before we play our final  game away to GHA.  We shall have to prepare well for that”.

Hillhead/Jordanhill RFC – Angus Twaddle, Archie Miller, Robbie Williamson, Will Marshall,  Andrew Leslie  ,  Cameron McCulloch ( Craig Bryson ) , David Armstrong ,David Simm , Joe Stafford ( Will Goulden )  ,   Nick McAuley , Duncan McCartney ( Murray Longton ),  Cameron Hogg  ,  Jonny Agnew , Donald Pitkethly, Stuart Rose ( C ) .  Subs – Blair McKenzie