The margin of victory at no side might have been 14 points, but after a full 70 minutes of play the scores were glued at 6-6 all, and it seemed like a draw would have been the likely outcome. The touchline cognoscenti reckoned there were two probable game breakers : a mistake by one of the sides to let the other through the defensive wall, or a flash of brilliance from one of the attackers. Fortunately for the Hills and their supporters, it was the latter. Super sub, Conor Kelly playing at full back, entered an attacking play some 35 metres from the Howe try line. He had 5 defenders in front of him and just one Hills player on the right wing in support. Head up, he went hard for a “gap” engaging his after burners as he went, and touched down to the right of the posts with only one visiting player close. A try to win a game !! But not quite as Hills no 8, Ryan Reilly, made sure some 5 minutes later with a close range maul driven try. Rory Harte converted that along with the previous try to yield the 14 point margin, but it was a close run thing.
Before the exciting last 10 minutes, it had been a very absorbing and closely contested fixture. The first half with “ Hills” playing down the slope found the home scrummage under severe pressure from their opposition with no.8, Ryan Reilly, frequently having to tidy up retreating ball. Line breaks were limited, as midfield and fringe defences were on top. But Hills stand-off and captain, Rory Harte, did break the line with one electrifying burst. He looked as if he might score, but a desperate tap tackle halted his progress. Andrew Brown was running in support, but the Howe defence stifled any more progress. By the time the mid point of the game was reached, the respective no 8’s, Reilly for Hills and Brad O’Hanlon for Howe, had played influential roles in keeping their sides well in the game. The goal kickers, Harte for Hills and Cameron Patrick for the visitors, had each contributed two penalties off the tee to tie the score at 6-6.
The second half produced more of the same with Scott Halliday and Andrew Brown in the Hills centres being resolute in both defensive chores and offensive endeavours. The longer the second half progressed , the more the Hills “ lighthouse men”, Jonny Agnew and Blair Colvin, began to dominate the touchline battles, and also some of the charges in broken play. Howe began to defend deeper in their half, without, however, revealing any fallibility. But in the 70th minute thanks to the pace and nous of Conor Kelly, the stalemate was broken.
In the time remaining, Howe did run the ball back at Hills but the home defence miraculously held out. Somehow Hills raised the Howe siege again to steal back up the field and win a penalty. A close range lineout provided sufficient momentum for the ball and Ryan Reilly to be driven over the line to seal the victory.
The game, with its ebbing and flowing, was a credit to both clubs and their coaching teams for the quality of play throughout. Also worthy of praise were the Hughenden groundstaff for the quality of the surface provided for this game, considering the volume of rainfall preceding the fixture.
Albeit Howe have a game in hand over Hills in the league, but this victory for the home team puts 10 points between the sides with Hills now 3rd and Howe 5th in league 3. The prize is to finish in the top 6 by the end of the programme to secure a place in NL 3 for season 23/24. Hills have 10 more games to play.
Hills next play Greenock Wanderers at Fort Matilda , weather permitting, on Saturday January 21st with a 14.00 KO.
