Hamilton’s promotion hopes ebb away

Jan 18 2007

HAMILTON’S promotion hopes were dented on Saturday as they lost to Glasgow side GHA at Braidholm.

The result puts Hamilton 14 points behind Edinburgh Accies, who sit in the third promotion slot, and although not mathematically impossible, it will be difficult to make up this ground.

Despite some atrocious weather conditions, both sides played good, controlled rugby, and the crowd enjoyed a competitive match.

But in the end GHA did enough to become the first side to deny Hamilton a score in a league encounter since October 28, 2000.

Despite GHA enjoying most of the early pressure, Hamilton had a chance to take an 18th-minute lead from a penalty.

Craig Sangster opted to kick for the corner, rather than go for a wind-assisted three points, and although Matt Gray did well to take David McGrath’s lineout, GHA’s alert defence made sure Hamilton couldn’t break through.

With 30 minutes gone, Hamilton again put a kickable penalty into the corner and although Gray secured lineout, but again GHA blocked their path.

Ron Strydom thought he had broken clear to touch down, but the referee was unsighted and instead awarded Hamilton a scrum, which GHA managed to disrupt and clear the danger.

As the half moved into injury time Hamilton were awarded another penalty, four metres inside their own half, but Sangster’s effort didn’t carry the distance, and both sides headed for the shelter of their dressing rooms, with the score at 0-0.

Ten minutes into the half, Alistair Smith made an excellent charge through the middle, and his pass to Strydom provided the South African scrum-half with an opportunity to break inside, towards the try-line.

He fed Nigel Scullion, who had come off his own wing to add width on the right, and the winger did well to make the 22-metre line before good cover tackling halted the move.

But after 18 minutes Alan Bulloch broke from his own 22 and made good ground, taking GHA into Hamilton’s half for the first time in the second half.

Despite a good tackle by Stuart Eynon, GHA kept the ball alive and winger Rory Watson managed to squeeze in at the corner for a try and a 5-0 lead.

Hamilton continued to put pressure on GHA, but couldn’t find a way through their defence.

A minute from time, GHA were awarded a penalty 40 metres from goal, and Jim Noonan’s kick flew between the uprights to make the score 8-0 and deny Hamilton a losing bonus point.

Hamilton can take heart that they put in a good performance in horrendous conditions, but must regret not kicking for points in the first half.

This Saturday the Bulls travel to Castle Douglas to face National League Division Two side Stewartry in the National Cup fourth round. Kick-off is 2pm.

Hamilton’s next home game is scheduled for 2.30pm on January 27, when Edinburgh Accies are the visitors to Laigh Bent, in a match that coincides with Ladies’ Day.

GHA............................. 8 Hamilton...................... 0