Hillhead Jordanhill 1st XV 53 points Hamilton Bulls 12 points
Bernie Mitchell
The frost had lifted and the pitch was firm enough to invite the players of both sides to run freely with the ball for this, the last competitive game of the calendar year. And Hills obliged in the first quarter of this National Cup game with three cracking tries based on quick distribution from first phase where debut boy , Euan Ward, at scrum half excelled producing finger tip passing across all the team. Prop Darryl Elvin scored off a driving line out maul, flanker Giacomo Sanders from a close range drive and full back, Matt “ Plod” Murray, with a signature burst of speed through the visitors’ splintered defence.
But the Bulls were not willing to lie down and accept defeat meekly; and grew into the game with their own willingness to run and spread the ball wide. Hills did continue to open up, but at times their play was too lateral and there was a reluctance to commit to breakdown engagement. The mid point of the game was reached with Hills 15-7 up, Hamilton having scored and converted after a fine piece of attacking play.
The third quarter moved successfully in the way of the visitors favour with a try from persistent attacking play in the Hills twenty two. However after 50 minutes of fairly turgid stuff from Hills, head Coach, Tonci Buzov, shuffled his deck to bring on his principal play maker, Rory Harte, a move which changed totally both the character and the eventual outcome of the game for the Hills. Sensing tiredness in the limbs of the Bulls forwards, Harte kicked and probed into the lightly defended areas of the visitors defence. The momentum shift the home support sought was delivered.
The change in focus from constantly running first phase ball to territorial ascendancy allied to flanker, Calum Griffiths’ bullockIng runs from any where in the field to set up second phase ball knocked totally the stuffing out of the visitors. Hills added a further 6 tries in the last 28 minutes of the contest ; 3 from the kingmaker himself, 2 from the ubiquitous, dynamic hooker, Calum Weir, and 1 from the promising winger, Lewis Herd. Rory Harte converted 4 of these late tries to finish with a personal haul of 23 points. Not a bad Christmas present for his Club.
Hills now await the draw for the next round of the National Cup while the players and staff can look forward to a temporary break from the rigors of midweek training over the festive season. Hills return to competitive action on SATURDAY JANUARY 11 when they will host
their north Glasgow rivals, Allan Glens, in a match whose outcome might well determine the winner of National League 3 for season 2024-2025.
