Allan Glen’s 1st XV 30 pts Hillhead Jordanhill 1st XV 37 points
Bernie Mitchell
Hills owed this victory to a very strong second half performance , coming from an interval deficit of 24-17 to win by 37 points to 30 at full time. However, it was not quite a “ game of two halves” given the continuous 80 minute physicality of the contest between these two well matched clubs. It was just that Hills finally managed to shake off the shackles of their resilient hosts, and also cut down on their first half errors, which saw them fail to finish off frequent territorial advantage.
The first half scoring followed a tit for tat pattern. Glens exploited Hills ‘early defensive frailty to open the scoring, but Hills soon responded with left winger, Lewis Herd, finishing off a flowing cross field three-quarter move. At the end of the first quarter, the scores were level at 12-12, Glens responding to a close range Liam Tighe try which Rory Harte converted. The hosts bossed the breakdown in the second quarter, feeding on the visitors’ mistakes to move into a clear lead at 24-12. But some excellent interplay involving stand off Rory Harte and full back Fionn Whyte created just enough space for debut boy, Callum Speirs ex Jordanhill School, to squeeze in at the right hand corner to touch down. The interval outcome, 1 try margin for Glens, did not seem insurmountable, but Hills required to find and maintain higher gears.
The fact that Glens in the second half were able to advance their score by only two well struck penalty goals, while Hills added 3 further tries provides only a quantitative overview, as the nature of Hills second 40 minutes was all about an improving quality of their attacking play. Strangely there was no dominance from either side in first phase work on the touchline or in the scrummage, rather the visitors used the ball they won to better effect.
Newcomer Angus Rutter at scrum half was lively and stand off, Rory Harte, kicked more effectively from the pivot position. The follow up from all the chasers strangulated Glens defence. When breakdown ball was delivered quickly, the dynamic open side flanker, James Agnew, scored a superb individual try by driving straight and hard at the opposition. Better was to follow when another fast, flowing move by the Hills backs allowed the “ Ginger Flash”, no. 13 Damien Genocchio, to scorch over the line. The final try in the second half came from one place further out when the ball was again moved smartly right to left to allow Lewis Herd to run in past his opposition to touch down behind the posts. Rory Harte converted to take the score to 34 -30 for Hills with some 8 minutes to go. Glens were far from being out of contention but the rest of the match was played in midfield with Rory Harte making sure of this hard won victory by converting a penalty chance.
It was a fine advert for the domestic game with the next round in the Cup competition coming on the final Saturday of competitive play in 2024, December 14, when Hills entertain Hamilton Bulls with a 14.00 KO at Hughenden. Before then Hills engage on a hard trek of 3 away venues in National League 3 competition : Dumfries at Park Farm on November 9, Orkney at Piqaquoy Park, Kirkwall on the 16th and then the Granite City to play Aberdeen Grammar Rugby on November 23rd.
It’s a hard shift being a supporter or administrator of the Hills during November BUT even harder being an Amateur player. Anyone for Dumfries, Kirkwall or Aberdeen ?
