Published: Tuesday, 4th November, 2008 10:15
Lomond learn on the job
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GHK RFC 29 Loch Lomond RFC 15
Sometimes you just have to admit you were beaten by a better team and try to learn from the experience.
This was the experience Lomond endured on Saturday against an in-form GHK side.
In what was originally slated to be a home fixture, the men in maroon and gold probably sensed that the omens weren’t good when the fixture had to be switched to Old Anniesland after the Dilly was made unavailable.
In perfect conditions for rugby, Lomond kicked off into the bright sunshine, but were almost immediately on the defensive.
After a knock-on from a Lomond hand, GHK moved the ball with mesmerising speed between forwards and backs to score a great try in the corner.
The tricky conversion sailed over to leave Lomond 7-0 down, almost before they had drawn breath.
The game continued in a similar vein following the restart, with only some desperate defending keeping the Lomond line intact.
But there is a newfound steeliness about this Lomond side and despite being under the cosh, they somehow fought their way back into the match.
Some astute kicking from stand-off McAdam moved them steadily into GHK territory before, from a series of short rucks, he collected the ball himself to barge over the line close to the home posts.
He slotted the conversion to level the scores and knock some of the swagger out of the GHK side.
The match entered a crucial phase and for the first time it seemed Lomond may have found the measure of their opponents with some powerful runs from their forwards and inside backs clearly troubling the home defence.
A penalty gave GHK back the lead and a disrupted Lomond line-out and a clean break for a simple try gave them a clear advantage at the end of the first-half.
Lomond’s cause was further undermined by an unfortunate injury to full-back, Turner, which forced him off.
As the second-half got underway it was clear that Lomond weren’t going to lie down — their pack threw themselves into combat, but it was the home team who scored first.
GHK’s back division must be amongst the best in this league and another flowing move was rounded off by another score in the corner leaving Lomond staring down the barrel of another defeat.
To their credit, they fought back again and after some typically dogged work from the forwards No8 McGinty smashed through two defenders for a fine try.
The conversion was landed and suddenly the game was getting interesting.
Despite all Lomond’s efforts, it was GHK who sealed the game with another fine try when a powerful centre-field break and quick off-loading saw them scamper over the line and finally end the Lomond challenge.
Lomond can take a lot of heart from their performance, as playing against, arguably the best team in the league they acquitted themselves well.
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