Hillhead Jordanhill 1st XV 27 points Aberdeen Grammar Rugby 1st XV 25 points
Bernie Mitchell
On a fine early autumnal day of unbroken warm sunshine, the Hills just triumphed over a very competitive Grammar side in a game of wild fluctuations. The first quarter was all square at 6-6 all, but the Hills just moved ahead by 13-6 at the mid point of the game. The third quarter saw the visitors move smartly into what appeared to be a commanding 25-13 lead. But the “ Hills” stormed back in the 4th quarter to take the game at the death by 27-25. All of this in a game which lasted some 93 minutes, due to significant downtime given the need to attend to injured players.
While territorially Aberdeen had the early advantages, their progress was halted by a resolute home defence which gave little away. When Hills eventually found their way into the Aberdeen half, via flying winger Fionn Whyte’s bursts up the touchline, insufficient continuity through phased possession was their undoing. Hills stand off and Captain, Rory Harte, and Grammar’s McIldery exchanged penalty goals. Hills began to shed some of their ring rustiness in the second quarter through the driving play of Marinkovic who proved difficult to halt. However the catalyst to Hills first try was a wonderful 50-22 kick from hand by Rory Harte which travelled some 55 metres to provide a close range line out. A fine clutch by James Agnew led to a series of close range drives on the Aberdeen line with no. 8 Milan Markinovic scoring. Rory Harte converted to take his side to 13-6.
The third quarter of the game was all Grammar’s with Hills temporarily short handed with Niall Hall taking time off in the “ cooler” and the Hills line out disappearing permanently. Aberdeen rattled on 3 tries from Byers, a constant danger on the right wing, their No. 8 Gamba from a close range lunge and then finally from Robertson, a classy mid field back. This last try occupied the length of the playing area, Grammar having won a Hills 5 metre attacking line out and then opening up from their dead ball area. Crucially at the round up one missed conversion by Grammar in this period was the difference between success and failure.
As so often recently, Hills turned to their playmaker, Rory Harte, for both inspiration and salvation. Running laterally on the Aberdeen 22, he kick passed to his left winger Whyte whose elasticity allowed him to outgrasp his opposite number, Byers, to touch down just in the field of play. Harte converted magnificently from the touchline and Hills were now just the one score adrift. The final 10 minutes saw both sets of players on the field give their all for their sides both in attack and defence. But if was Hills quiet man, loose head prop, Niall Hall, who surged over the line to tie the scores. The nerveless Harte coolly slotted the
conversion to take his side home in a belter of a game which placed great physical demands on both sides. Three cheers for the Domestic Amateur game !!
Hills now make the short trip to their south side rivals, Cartha QP, for what has recently been a tight fixture. Kick off at Dumbreck is 15.00 .
