Bulls charge into final preparations

Aug 7 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

WITH only four weeks to go before the start of the 2008-09 season Hamilton Rugby Club’s preparations stepped up a gear when they faced Cartha Queen’s Park at Laigh Bent on Saturday and went down by 21-54.

Although billed as a friendly, the Glasgow south side club arrived with a strong squad and were determined to prove they can bounce back from relegation to Premier 3 which they suffered last season.

With captain Allan Dodds and vice-captain Richie Maxton unavailable, Hamilton put Ross Inglis at full-back, Craig Inglis in the centre, and Andy Macphee and Nigel Scullion on the wings for the start of the encounter.

Stuart Bartwicki and Craig Sangster were deployed at the back, while Ross Oattes, Matt Gray, David Gemmell and Ralph McInally were in the forwards.

Peter Murphy and Gerry Hawkes started at open-side beside John Selfridge and Paul Flood.

it was the visitors Cartha who opened the scoring through Robert Harvey in five minutes, and John McCrossan put them 10-0 ahead five minutes later.

Hamilton came back strongly and put pressure on Cartha in 20 minutes, but Chris Armstrong intercepted and Alan Noble raced upfield to put the visitors 15-0 in front.

Hamilton then made changes to their line-up with Stephen Wright, Roddy Wallace, Owen McLeish, Jason Agnew, Nicky Malley and Ally Marshall replacing Ross Inglis, Macphee, Sangster, Gemmell, Selfridge and Hawkes.

And the Bulls pulled a score back in 25 minutes when McLeish moved the ball downfield, Scullion kicked ahead and won the race to touch down, with McLeish converting for 15-7.

However, Cartha immediately stretched their lead to 20-7.

Smith then broke free to score for Hamilton, with McLeish again converting, but Noble grabbed another try for a 25-14 half-time lead.

Sangster returned to inside-centre, Smith moved to wing in place of Scullion, and Gemmell moved to back-row at half-time.

Hamilton dominated the third quarter, but it took them 15 minutes to breach Cartha’s defence.

Quick ball along the backs found Craig Inglis, who cut inside to touch down, with McLeish converting for 25-21.

However, this prompted Cartha to step up a gear, and in the final quarter as Hamilton began to tire they scored five more tries without reply, with McCrossan kicking two conversions – although it was fortunate for Hamilton that he was so off-target.

Hamilton travel to face Premier 1 side Stirling County on Saturday.