Howe of Fife 7 points Hillhead Jordanhill 34 points
Bernie Mitchell
Although dry underfoot at Duffus Park, a keen wind blew all afternoon from the Ochils, making for a chilly experience for the spectators in the well filled stand and the players charged with kicking duties. Hills played with the wind at their backs in the first half, but made little of it, due to the hosts near total domination of first phase play and useable ball.
Howe scored a converted try after only 2 minutes of play with Hills rush defence being penetrated by a fine grubber kick. Thereafter the visitors continued to be on the back foot, given their recent lineout contagion and the fierce scrummaging of the well nourished Howe pack, who had their opponents wishing they could apply some form of hand break in the set piece. Yet the shoal of possession which Howe won was effectively neutralized by some copybook tackling in the centres from the veteran, Scott Halliday, and his partner Andrew Brown. Also, around the fringes and elsewhere in broken play, the Ulster duo of Jayson Denley and James Agnew figured prominently in some Christmas Tree felling.
As so often happens, the momentum of the game alterted slightly after some 28 minutes when Hills managed, on a very rare occasion, to visit Howe’s 22. Some good “ pick and goes “ and offloads allowed Rory Harte to probe for weakness, and after some more Hills power play, full back, Matt “ Plod” Murray, worked a clever line to score a try. This score energized the Hills, and, beginning to win some turnover ball, they began to attack the hosts defensive areas. Exerting some pressure in a series of close range charges, No. 8 Milan Markinovic, finally barreled and burrowed his way over, like a well fed mole, to give his side a scarcely deserved 10-7 lead in respect of their limited territorial play and possession .
The 3rd quarter Howe had the opportunity to use the wind to their advantage to park their bus in the Hills 22. It was at this stage the Hills squad dug deep, principally over a series of close range scrums. Howe refused the opportunity to convert a close range penalty goal to keep scoreboard pressure on, but failed to break the visitors. Hills scrum then began to achieve some equilibrium in the front row contest, and, remarkably, Rory Harte produced a howitzer to take his team downfield . There was much close range scrambling before Markinovic repeated his previous party trick to go over for his second try of the game.
Hills were now 15-7 up after some 50 minutes of play and it was clear Howe were becoming more frustrated at their inability to break down the Hills. Lack of discipline in the tackle area produced one Howe yellow to be followed some 10 minutes later by another for dissent.
Howe therefore played 20 minutes with only 14 men. Field spaces began to open up for the visitors, and the catalyst for their 4th and bonus point try was an electrifying 60 metre burst up the stand touchline. Good recycling from 3 successive breakdowns found Stand off, Rory Harte, lifting his head to spot gaps in the Howe rearguard. A typical chip into empty space and ball collection resulted in a typical Harte try, which he converted.
Hills were now 22-5 up and playing with such confidence and freedom that they began to run at the splintered hosts defence from anywhere in the field of play. Their passing and handling skills were faultless, and even brought some grudging approval from the home support. Prop Darryl Elvin crashed over from short range and left winger , Fionn Whyte, showcased his elusive skills by “ skinning” an out of position Howe forward to score his team’s 6th and final try which Rory Harte converted.
A return of five league points against a top NL3 side was no mean feat considering the battering to which Hills were subjected in the first quarter of this match. Hills now enter somewhat quieter waters for the last fixture of 2024, when they play Hamilton Bulls in their final pool game of the National Cup at Hughenden on Saturday December 14th , KO 14.00
