Hillhead Jordanhill RFC 1st XV 31 points Dumfries Saints 1st XV 0 points
Facing a dominant Hills scrummage and an adventurous home back division who used every opportunity to run and attack with ball in hand, Dumfries Saints were swept aside to be losing 24-0 at half time. The second period of play saw the visitors mount more attacks but they foundered on aggressive Hills defence in which all of the Hills squad were outstanding. Dumfries ended the game scoreless losing by 31 points.
Hills first try owed everything to the tenacity of winger, Fionn Whyte, who attacked off loose Dumfries ball to chase and hack all the way from his own 10 metre line to the visitors’ goal line where tight head prop, Liam Tighe, powered his way over from the breakdown. Although stand off and captain. Rory Harte, missed the conversion, he quickly redeemed himself by using Blair Colvin’s good line out work to create a scoring opportunity for debut full back, Joe Strain. This time Harte converted beautifully from the right hand side touchline.
The second quarter continued in the same fashion with a dominant scrummage, where props Niall Hall and Liam Tighe were hugely influential, providing front foot ball for the backs to constantly attack the Dumfries midfield. Equally the lineout, where Jayson Denley and Blair Colvin, offered a fruitful source of possession also caused the visitors problems. No more so when Colvin creamed off the top to scrum half, Fraser Ebbit, who fed the looping Liam Tighe to brush aside the Saints defence and score by the posts. Rory Harte converted and Hills were now 19 points ahead. The fourth and bonus point try was not long delayed when, after another spell of close range pressure, right winger Ayrton To crossed the line following some excellent interpassing between backs and forwards. The mid point score was a very fair refection of the Hills dominance in all phases of the play.
The 3rd and 4th quarters saw the visitors come more into the play with their bold attempts to attack both the hosts midfield and out wide. BUT Hills were resolute in their defensive chores where No 8 Calum Griffths excelled in bringing the opposition players down firmly to the ground. The 5th and final try of the match came from some continuous probing of the Dumfries defence which eventually had to succumb to Rory Harte’s legerdemain, when missing out both his centres to float a pass out to flying left winger, Fionn Whyte, to dash across the line and touch down between the posts. Rory Harte converted and that was it: a fine home win and 5 league points.
Hills now travel the short distance on Saturday September 16th to Dumbreck on the south side of the City to play their rivals, Cartha QP, in round 3 of the competition, KO 15.00
