Hamilton Rugby Club's final pre-season month

Aug 6 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Rugby Club move into the final month of their pre-season preparations when the 1st XV squad travels north to take part in a 10-a-side tournament in Ellon.

Other teams involved are Aberdeenshire, Garioch, Gordonians, Boroughmuir, Highland, host club Ellon and a President’s Select.

Coach Ian Morrison said: “The short game format will provide the team with the opportunity to hone their fitness levels under match conditions, as well as giving some of the younger players their first experience of travelling with the 1st XV.

“It is a long journey, but provided we can qualify from our pool we should get enough rugby for everyone to take part.

“We then have two full 1st XV matches at Laigh Bent to finalise our preparations.

“On August 15 Darlington are the visitors and this should be a stern test of how well our pre-season training has gone.

“Then we face East Kilbride on August 22 before our opening Scottish Hydro Premiership 3 match on August 29 when Ardrossan Academicals visit Laigh Bent.”

A 2nd XV travelled to Bonhill last weekend to face Loch Lomond’s first team in a pre-season friendly.

As this was the first competitive outing for both sides, the match was played over four quarters of 20 minutes, allowing coaches to try various permutations under game conditions.

It was obvious early on that both sides were coming out of the close season as the first period was riddled with errors and no scoring opportunities.

The second period opened with Hamilton fielding a number of players from last season’s under-17 side and they moved the ball along the backs, immediately putting pressure on their hosts.

However, when the Bulls were penalised in front of their posts for playing the ball on the ground it was Loch Lomond who took the lead when Tom Carruthers slotted the penalty kick.

Despite this set-back the young Bulls stuck to their task in the final move of the period, scrum-half Callum Crawford broke through the home defence to touch down, with Ross Bryant adding the conversion for 7-3.

Youngsters had shown the way in the second period but two veterans provided what was needed in the third.

Backs coach Craig Sangster joined the fray as the period was drawing to a close and broke through the middle, midway inside his own half.

Feeding the ball to Gerry Hawkes, who covered 50 metres before returning it to Sangster who forced his way over for the try. Owen McLeish converted for 14-3.

During the fourth period both teams looked to be feeling the pace and the game ended with no further scoring.

Speaking after the game, 2nds coach Stuart Eynon said: “The game was a worthwhile exercise, which allowed me to blood a number of youngsters coming out of the junior ranks and posed a number of questions that can now be worked on in the coming weeks.

“We finished fourth in our league last season to retain our place in the Scottish Reserve League Division Two.

“However, the re-introduction of the Border sides with Melrose and Hawick fielding teams in our division, means we need to be at our best when we start our campaign.”

The 2nds will start their league fixtures on the same day as the 1st XV when they face Edinburgh side RHC.

In addition Hamilton’s 3rds will again be playing in the Scottish Reserve League West Division Six, while age-group teams from under-15 through to under-18 will play in the Glasgow Regional Leagues.

A full programme of rugby for everyone from the ages of five to under-14 will also be provided every Sunday by the Hamilton club’s mini and midi sections.

New players are always welcome and anyone looking for more details should visit the club website at www.hamiltonrugbyclub.co.uk or call the clubhouse on 01698 200021.