Hutchesons' strong performance confirmed their position at the top of pool 1 and earned a home quarter final tie against Marr College on Saturday 22 January 2011. KO is 10.30 at Auldhouse.
Hutchie welcomed back George Swankie into the team after an injury forced layoff which was extended by the recent freezing conditions. His contribution was immediate as he collected a penalty and two converted tries as the home team played with pace and power to open up an early lead. The Dunbar defence was exposed by Hutchies ability to play at pace and move the ball away from contact. After the early scores, Hutchesons' were able to settle and an excellent controlling performance at scrum half from Robbie Blackwood enabled the team to reach the interval with a 45-0 lead.
The second half was a more competitive affair with the Dunbar squad exerting some sustained pressure on the Hutchesons' line. Staunch defence kept them at bay and some fine work by stand off Gregor Davidson allowed the team to clear the line on several occasions. Another 4 tries were scored with two conversions going over to make the final score 69-0.
Credit must go to the Dunbar team who never gave up and continued to compete until the final whistle of this contest.
Next week (Saturday 22 January) will be a different challenge with the Marr College boys coming to Auldhouse to compete for a spot in the semi final. A big crowd is expected for this encounter which kicks off at Auldhouse at 10:30am.
The Under 18 rugby squad have exited their competition at the group stage after a close fought defeat to North Berwick.
A clichéd "Game of two halves" saw Hutchesons' win their first group game away at Marr College in Troon by four tries to one, securing the four points for the win and the 4 try bonus point into the bargain.
Leaving a very wet and blustery Glasgow the 1st XV headed south on the M77 minus our second row's playing kit, which had been helpfully removed from the 6th form common room. Conspiracy theories about Marr players' girlfriends were expounded and quashed by the sages on the back seat, the team rallied around and spare kit and a new gumshield were found. Our arrival at the seaside found the sun shining but with much wind. A perfect afternoon for kite flying or wind surfing and none too bad for a Cup Clash of titanic proportions.
The game kicked off, and a Marr winger rose above our receivers superbly, only to knock on. The resulting scrum to Hutchie was solid and a new back row move found Michael Clark taking the ball through the defence. Superb offloading and support play followed, Carty to Osborne, on to Mair and finally to Haughney who scored halfway between corner flag and posts, well converted by Pope, judging the strong wind to his back very well. Two minutes played 7 - 0.
The next kick off saw the white and red shirts of Hutchie again look imposing, bristling with power, speed and intent. A fumbled offload saw the ball given to Marr in their twenty two metre area, only for it to be turned over in the tackle, Rutnagur seized on the chance, fed Blackwood sweeping blind on a solo run for the corner, his dive and ball placement being judged a fair try as the corner flag became misshapen and bashed. The kick from the touchline missed, the score after four minutes 12 - 0, a superb start. Marr changed their restart to our left and the forwards raced into position. A solid catch saw a blindside open up undefended Rutnagur feeding Krause to go on a fifty metre dash, well tackled by the Marr full back. Our other winger Anderson threatened over on the right too, having a try disallowed for a double movement. Numerous penalties were then conceded and our team discipline required some strong leadership from Haughney, Lough and Blackwood.
The best rugby of the season so far followed, forwards and backs linking well, following our game plan, with line breaks through the yellow shirted Marr defence, making a good team look almost helpless to resist us at times. Naismith raced over for our third try midway through the first half converted by Pope, 19 - 0.
There was no stopping the Hutchie team, and Osborne in borrowed clothes made the afternoon secure with the bonus point try, powering over after really fast and powerful play. Thirty minutes played. 26 - 0.
Half time was all positive, but wind against second half meant the game was not won. Marr College, quarterfinalists in both schools' rugby competitions last year would not give up either, they are always tough opponents and especially at home in Troon.
If the first half saw superb attack from our team, the second was one of composed and resolute defence. Penalties were conceded for aggressive tackling, and technical infringements at scrum and lineout. A try was awarded to Marr, although dispute regarding the grounding of the ball had to be quietened by the calmer leaders on the field. Six of our seven subs were given valuable game time, as it will be as a squad that we will get through a very tough set of upcoming fixtures and not the first fifteen players.
The wind was difficult to manage, but we kicked well, continued to play some very accomplished rugby, and perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the second half was the assured manner in which we closed the game out. The victory was secured with the wind in the first half and the second saw the team determined to move onwards and upwards in the cup. A high quality team performance with yet more to come.
Played: 7 Won: 6 Drawn: 0 Lost:1 Points For:172 Against 71
Next Games:
Edinburgh Academy (a) 6 November
Jordanhill 13 November
Cup 3rd Rd George Watsons (h) Wed 17 November
Heavy rain in the morning gave the wide and welcoming Accies pitch a soggy squelch, and thoughts of a wide and fast flowing game were far from our mind as we walked across the pitch to sit in the stand. However the combination of sunshine and wind dried out the ground sufficiently in the hour leading up to kick off that conditions were almost perfect for running rugby. What followed was Hutchie's best performance of the season to date.
Jamie Blackwood kicked off long and the defence was lead by John Haughney who made a firm first tackle and set the standards for our defence. Hutchie had a very good start, and made it over the line twice, but both wingers, Anderson and then Krause spilt the ball in contact, whilst in the act of crossing the line. Our strong attacking intent was initially matched with Academy's determined defence, but after fourteen minutes, centre Jamie Naismith hacked through the line to score under the posts, converted by Leishman, 7 - 0. Nerves settled.
Hutchie were playing to the game plan well, MacDonald, Leishman and Haughney saw much ball in midfield, ball was quick and chances aplenty. Exciting rugby for the spectator. Midfield penalties were exchanged, both sides opting for lineout kicks, but Glasgow Academy who had been given a serious hammering in their own half up to this point gained field position ten metres from the Hutchesons' line. A good catch and drive, forwards picking close to the ruck, and Glasgow Academy equalised 7 - 7.
Hutchesons forward pack then asserted themselves once more, some superb scrummaging from Armour, Lough and Dunlop saw several strikes against head and feed. Turnovers at the tackle from David Mair and John Haughney saw Hutchie have 75% possession and the next score duly came courtesy of fast hands and a wingers finish from Sam Krause. Scored wide out, the conversion was narrowly missed by Leishman, 12 - 7. Half Time.
The talk at half time was keep up the good work, keep possession, and finish off moves more efficiently than in the first half. Be more clinical. Mr Forrester offering the cliché, "The next score is vital."
So it was that the second half started the same as the first with Hutchie attacking well inside the Academy half. Some excellent interplay between forwards and backs saw Grant MacDonald offload to David Mair, who scored a good try. Converted by Leishman 19 - 7.
Glasgow Academy stuck to the task and came back strongly, requiring some solid defence both as a team and in terms of individual technique from the Hutchie team. Michael Clark led the way defensively, with David Mair also high in the tackle count. Half Backs Rutnagur and Blackwood tried to play a little too much rugby in our own twenty two metre area and half, and as a team we became a little lost in terms of how we wanted to play, standing flat when kicking and deeper when running. Changes were made and the strength of the bench was evident. Osborne replacing Carty who had a very good game both set piece and in open play. Osborne added another dimension to our lineout and made some good tackles. Ben Hutchison made his presence felt, hitting a high number of rucks and making some telling tackles, as he replaced Mair at openside. Plumridge and Shields came on at half back and settled the side down, kicking for territory and playing front foot rugby well. (The forwards platform was superb throughout and real team strength.) Shields broke neatly at standoff and fed Haughney to dive over from five metres out. The conversion was missed by the usually accurate Shields 24 - 7.
Fraser Leishman was replaced by Grant Vermeulen with an injured hand, and Vermeulen again showed his potential as a utility player adept in the back row as well as the back three. Academy spirit was weakening now and the fresh legs and skills of the Hutchie team made each wave of attack seem relentless, Anderson found himself in midfield with space and outpaced three Academy defenders to sore under the posts from thirty metres out. Shields doesn't miss two in a row, so the score became 31 -7.
Final Changes made, Dale Cromar on for the excellent Jamie Naismith and Matthew Henson on for Myles Anderson. More attacking play from Hutchie, and the arrival of the final whistle. This was a comprehensive win, with huge superiority in territory and possession. The contact area was much more efficient, height in contact much better. Turnovers and counter rucks were a real strength, with finishing the area to look to improve. A Cup win that takes us into the group stages and the "Top 16." A great result, 9/10 for a job well done.