Allan Glens 1st XV 48 points Hillhead Jordanhill 1st XV 12 points
Bernie Mitchell
In the first 10 minutes of this game at the Bearyards, Hills looked world beaters as they camped in the Glens danger zone, scoring a try from centre Andrew Brown, converted by George Gornall, and recycling possession as if there would be no tomorrow. Unfortunately lack of composure adjacent to the try line and failure to execute clear overlaps proved the visitors ‘ undoing. Glens recovered from their early onslaught to pull away inexorably from Hills to reach the midpoint of the game 27-7 ahead, and then at the final whistle 48-12 to the good. The extent of the Glens territorial domination after the first 10 minutes was such that in the period till no side, Hills were not awarded a single penalty in the home danger area.
Hills clearly missed their stand off and talisman, Rory Harte, their bulky tight head prop, Liam Tighe and their lineout “ boss” Blair Colvin, but missing players cannot be used as an excuse for the eventual one sided nature of a defeat, which was comprehensive in its nature. After Glens woke up from their early trance, their forward pack undermined Hills recurring frailty on the touchline and lack of continuous “ dig” in the set piece to move ahead of the visitors with virtual impunity. Although Milan Marinkovic splintered the home defence on occasions from his pick ups and drive from the scrum, little came of these and Hills centres, Scott Halliday and Andrew Brown, both of whom excelled throughout, had too little good ball to work with.
Hills did raise some semblance of a fightback in the second half after flanker Jaysen Denley sprinted in for a fine solo try but the cruel award of a penalty try against them for a scrummage offence sucked out of them what belief Hills had left. Glens then won this game deservedly by scoring five tries, all converted, a penalty try and two penalty goals .
Hills now have a weekend off from competitive play, the October 5th Saturday being a “ bye weekend “ in this 9 team Arnold Clark National 3 division. They play next on Saturday October 12th when they entertain Garnock RFC, newcomers this season to NL3, at Hughenden, kick off 15.00.
On an adjacent pitch, the 2nd XVs of both Clubs enjoyed a very close West Reserve League 1 fixture, the visitors overcoming their hosts 38-34 in a very tight game.
