Borderers knock Bulls out of Cup

Mar 19 2008

HAMILTON crashed out of the Scottish Hydro-Electric Cup in the sixth round on Saturday, losing to Premier 2 rivals Jed-Forest.

The previous four meetings between these sides had all been tight and both teams expected another hard-fought encounter; they weren’t disappointed.

Hamilton made a bright start and took the game to their hosts through solid forward runs.

Eventually, a long kick through by Craig Inglis allowed Jed to take a very quick line-out and come surging upfield.

Solid scrimmaging allowed Clark Laidlaw and Ross Goodfellow to break free and, supported by Gary Hill, they almost made it to the Hamilton line.

This was a warning of things to come and after a penalty was played into the corner, Goodfellow caught Hamilton’s defence napping to score the opening try.

Hamilton came back well and when Jed failed to clear things up they were forced into conceding a penalty but Ronald Strydom failed to take advantage.

With Ralph McInally and Allan Dodds taking the ball back into Jed’s half, Hamilton tried to haul themselves back into the game.

But Jed responded with Hill and Jamie McCraw breaking clear and evading tackles before being stopped by some desperate defending. However, the referee felt one of the tackles was high and Seb Trotter slotted the penalty for 8-0.

Hamilton were making slow progress down the field but errors crept into their game regularly and Jed took advantage to clear.

A missed tackle on Dave Gobby out wide gave him time to set winger McCraw free.

He was stopped short but ball was recycled to the opposite side of the field for Roy McFarlane to crash over for another unconverted try and a 13-0 half-time lead.

Hamilton started the second half strongly and a good break by Craig Sangster set Ian Boyer free to burst down the wing.

He was eventually supported by Richie Maxton as Hamilton started to turn the screw.

This eventually paid off when Sangster and Bart Karalus broke away and set up Dodds for an unconverted try in the corner.

Hamilton’s forwards were dominating, and when Sangster and Stuart Bartwicki moved the ball deep into the Jed half, Ally Marshall secured line-out ball.

As it was thrown wide, Alistair Smith was stopped inches short of the line, but recycled ball allowed Sangster to gather and crash over for Hamilton’s second try to cut the deficit to 13-10.

Jed were making unforced errors and Hamilton took advantage, with Gerry Hawkes and Andy Thomson setting up Smith for try number three.

Strydom’s conversion put Hamilton into a 17-13 lead.

Sangster collected the ball at the kick-off and was caught in possession, with Jed thundering back downfield.

As the ball was thrown wide, Jed found themselves with a good overlap, and McGraw touched down in the corner, restoring the hosts’ advantage at 18-17 with 10 minutes remaining.

A kick ahead by Jed was collected by Smith, and with time ticking away he tried to break through the centre but was penalised for holding on in the tackle.

Up stepped David Grieve to slot home, taking Jed into a 21-17 lead.

With five minutes remaining, Hamilton knew one more score would turn it back around, but a sickening collision saw Strydom leave the field in an extremely dazed condition — and with attention diverted to the scrum-half, Hamilton’s supporters nearly missed the killer blow.

Another quick ball by Jed was thrown across the back division and a gap opened up for Laidlaw, who calmly slotted a drop-goal for the final 24-17 score.

With Hamilton’s cup run ended as Jed progress to the quarter-finals, league rugby returns to Laigh Bent, with the visit of county rivals Biggar. Kick-off is at 3pm.