Hamilton rugby club enjoy seven-try triumph

Sep 3 2009 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON launched their Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership 3 campaign in style with a seven-try romp.

Hamilton didn't have it all their own way and the forwards had some work to do to in the scrum but with returning scrum half Ronnie Strydom moving the ball quickly, the backs showed power and pace to open up the visitors defence. Hamilton attacked straight away and were soon ahead. David McGrath, Jason Agnew and Tony Malley combined with Sangster and McLean to take the game to the 22. Craig Inglis and McLaughlin broke free with the winger just being halted yards from the line. Strydom switched play left and Sangster stepped between the opposition centres to touch down under the posts. McLeish added the conversion.

Ardrossan hit back from a scrum near to the line. They opted for the scrum and, keeping the ball tight, forced their way over for Euan Frazer to touch down. Robin Hunter’s conversion levelled the scoring.

The visitors kept up the pressure and led 10-7 when Hamilton were penalised for playing the ball on the ground.

From a punt in to the Bulls 22, Craig Inglis moved the ball to McLean, who broke through the middle then fed left to Ross Inglis for the young winger to outpace everyone and touch down in the corner to put the Bulls back ahead.

In the last move of the half, the Bulls were reduced to 14 when McGrath was yellow-carded for playing the ball on the deck.

Early in the second half, the visitors’ Hunter was penalised for not releasing and joined McGrath in the bin.

Then, despite going backwards from a scrum, McCowan hooked the ball and Selfridge fed from the back to Strydom, who darted inside the defence to touch down under the posts, McLeish's kick stretching the lead to 19-10.

With McGrath back on the field, the Bulls almost scored straight from the restart. Wilson's kick was collected by Hawkes and the 42-year-old raced 50 metres through the opposition. Running out of space, he chipped infield for McLaughlin to collect and touch down, only to be pulled back for crossing.

A minute later, McLaughlin was over the line again but once more his score was disallowed and Hamilton were moved back 10 metres for dissent.

Hawkes later infringed while stopping a determined visitors’ move and was sent to the bin.

Hamilton regrouped and Strydom broke from the scrum, feeding McLaughlin. The big winger moved quickly downfield then fed left for McLean to burst through for a debut try, McLeish's converted putting the Bulls 26-10 ahead.

McLeish was in action a short time later, moving the ball left to Inglis. He launched another long ball for his brother to chase. Duncan was caught in possession and sin-binned for not releasing.

Hawkes returned as McGrath's throw found Maxton and the Bulls moved forward to the line, where Selfridge touched down. Once again, McLeish converted to take the score to 33-10.

Hamilton attacked again, winning a scrum midway inside the visitors' half. Ardrossan spun the scrum, winning possession but then kicked upfield where Inglis collected, putting in a deep cross field kick to touch 10 metres from the visitors' line.

Ross Oattes stole the ball and fed McLeish. The stand-off's long throw found Andy Macfie, on for Sangster, and he drew his man then fed Ross Inglis. The youngster finished the job, touching down in the corner to move the score to 38-10.

Despite Maxton collecting the restart, Hamilton failed to secure the ball and Ardrossan rumbled forward. Caught napping, the Hamilton defence failed to deal with the attack and the visitors reached 10 metres out.

Tidy work by Strydom turned the ball over for the Bulls but then McLeish was caught in possession. The ball bounced untidily and was hacked through for Blair to touch down.

The crowd rose to applaud what everyone thought was a hat-trick for Ross Inglis only to be disappointed when the referee pulled it back for a penalty to Hamilton.

In the final play. the visitors again took the ball close to the Hamilton line only to be stopped by Peter Murphy's tackle. The ball broke free and Craig Inglis set off straight down the park. He released a perfectly timed pass to Strydom and the scrum-half ran the rest off the way for his second and Hamilton's seventh try. McLeish converted to make the final score 45 -15.

New club captain Richie Maxton said afterwards: “We've had a number of changes in personnel since last season but the guys coming in have fitted in quickly and the ball movement was excellent. It will be another difficult game next Saturday away to old rivals Cartha. We just have to keep up the hard work and try to play like this every week."

Hamilton's 2ndXV also got off to a good start with a 29-7 win over RHC in their Scottish Reserve League Division 2 fixture. Last year's under-18 squad were well represented in this match with Chris Stannage (3 tries), Callum Crawford (try) and Lyle Calder (2 conversions) all scoring on their debuts. Hamilton's other try came from Robin Leckie.